Zoppé Italian Family Circus Comes To North Bay

PETALUMA, CA — Beginning Friday, North Bay will step back in time and experience the magic of the classic circus as the authentic Zoppé Italian Family Circus comes to town.

The big top of the Zoppé Circus is staged just as it was back in the mid-1800s, complete with costumes, music and acts to reflect its history, while adorned with international flags representing all the real-world artists and performers inside. The blue-and-white striped "Big Top Veneto," which can be seen all over town, is one of the last family-owned, single-ring traveling big-top circuses in the United States.

Presented in the 500-seat tent, this one-ring circus celebrates the tradition of old-world Italian circus arts, including acrobatic feats, high wire, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowns and expert jugglers. The Zoppé family will perform with the theme "Zoppé Liberta" in celebration of "Liberty and Freedom for All," Friday, Aug. 26, through Monday, Sept. 5 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma.

This is Zoppé — a family tradition lasting for 180 years and seven generations. The Italian circus has been bringing this ancient entertainment around the world since 1842 when French clown Napoline and Hungarian equestrian ballerina Ermenegilda ran away together to start a circus when her father disapproved of their relationship.

Giovanni Zoppé is a sixth-generation performer who plays Nino the clown in addition to directing the show. His father originally produced the Zoppé Circus back in Italy before bringing the act to America —handing down the ancient art from year to year, performing ringside with siblings, family members and children.

"Our heritage is the most important thing to us," Giovanni said. "That's why we continue to present the show the way that we do. It's a family circus, and most aspects of our circus are not like what you would see in most circuses. It's not high-tech. It's not modern. It's very vintage, sweet, kind and humble."

The Zoppé Italian Family Circus opens at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and continues with matinee and evening shows through Sept. 5. On Saturdays and Sundays, the circus offers three shows: 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final show takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5.

General admission tickets start at $15 for Early Birds, while VIP tickets are $47 with premium ring-side seating and cushioned chairs with backs.

The show length is approximately two hours. Guests can arrive 30 minutes before showtime for a unique pre-show experience. Crowd participation is highly encouraged and audience members occasionally become part of the show.

"This summer, we have a fresh new show for guests which includes both Old World classic circus acts in combination with New World acts from international artists including a troupe from Kenya and a troupe from Mexico," Giovanni said. "It's a great honor to be carrying on the tradition, and a huge responsibility for us to live us to our family's expectations. The circus tent provides an intimate setting in which audience members are very close to performers, in which when they walk into the tent, we want everyone to feel like they are part of our home."

This marks the first time the Zoppé Italian Family Circus has come to Petaluma. The circus will be in Redwood City from Oct. 7- Oct. 27 and at another California venue TBD from Sept. 9-19.

For complete ticket and show information, go to Zoppe.net.