One of the harbingers of summer in St. Louis is the return of the majestic red and white peaks of The Big Top to the Washington Avenue streetscape, ushering in an exciting new season in the Grand Center Arts District. Created in Italy by two of the premier tent building firms in the world, The Big Top has been a staple in the district since moving to its permanent home at 3401 Washington Ave. in 2018.
Under the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Big Top has found a permanent home allowing significant improvements to the venue’s production and guest experience, featuring state-of-the-art sound, lights, rigging, and video for world-class concerts, theatrical productions and more.
A beloved summer tradition, Circus Flora returns to The Big Top for its 39th season, “Urban Legend,” underway now through June 22. As always, Circus Flora will dazzle audiences of all ages with its unique combination of world-class circus performers, exceptional storytelling, and live original music. Every city has its legends and lore, and St. Louis is no exception. But what if one of those tales becomes all too real? Urban Legend invites the audience into a world where the city’s folklore comes to life in thrilling and unexpected ways with daring acrobats, clever clowns, incredible performance dogs and more.
In addition to its regular performances, Circus Flora is proud to host a series of special themed performances including: First Responders Night on Wednesday, June 12; a sensory-friendly matinee on Friday, June 13; Pride Night evening performance on Friday, June 13 and a Juneteenth matinee on Saturday, June 19. Visit circusflora.org for full performance and ticket information.
In September, The Big Top will transform into a premiere concert venue as one of three main stages for MATI 2025. Heading into its fifth year, the popular St. Louis-centric music festival will unveil an expanded format, open footprint and a community call-to-action. MATI weekend – now expanded to three days – features more than 100 national, regional and St. Louis-based performances and presentations. The Big Top’s large stage, comfortable seating, great sound and intimate setting is always a top spot for festival-goers to catch beloved artists and discover new favorites. Visit matistl.org to purchase passes and stay updated on all the latest news.
The Big Top will play host to an all-new event the weekend of October 24-26, as Counterpublic––a St. Louis-based triennial exhibition reimagining the possibilities of art in public life––hosts its inaugural convening, CIRCUS OF LIFE. The free festival, open to all publics and organized by writer and curator Laura Raicovich, alongside Ringleaders, Kenneth Bailey, Galen Gritts, Jeanne van Heeswijk, and Nontsikelelo Mutiti, will bring together artists, performers, poets, curators, organizers, activists and educators in The Big Top’s circus grounds.
CIRCUS OF LIFE will offer alternate ways of gathering via shared experience, reflecting a desire to reconnect art and life. Inspired by the history of the circus, artists of all stripes will perform and host booths of fun, reflection and exchange that have been created specifically with the current socio-political moment in mind—offering challenges and questions to consider. For more information, visit counterpublic.org.
In between these thrilling events, The Big Top is a turn-key rental event venue, with a capacity ranging from 200 to 1,400 persons, offering a one-of-a-kind experience for weddings, parties, corporate events, fundraising galas and more. KAF’s event staff is ready to help you plan the perfect event in this highly unique space. Visit kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-big-top/ to get started.
