The Circus' Disappearing Act

The news is nothing new, the circus has left town, early. The tent is gone, their business office is vacated and none of the circus’ phones are being answered. Actually, nobody is answering their phones.

Everything started in the spring of 2008 with all the hype of FSU’s Flying High Circus coming to town. They have a great reputation and have performed for 60 years with their main summer act being at Callaway Gardens in the summer since 1960. Don Hamrick wanted to change all that. Don and his wife Brenda formed Flying High LLC, contracted with FSU to pay them $120,000 for use of the name, Flying High Circus, and hired their student circus staff for the summer paying the performers $10 an hour.

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Circus is running full steam ahead

Almost three weeks into running, FSU’s Circus by the Sea at Frank Brown Park on Panama City Beach is running smoothly and having success.

I was out there today and they were heavy into circus camp with over 20 kids. Nate Stapp, Associate Director of the Flying Circus said that they have a capacity of around 60 kids.

They changed the ticket prices around a little. I was told that locals can get tickets for $15-adults and $10-kids and that it was spelled out on the website, but I couldn’t find anything that said that. On the website, it says that there is an online discount, $18-adults and $10-kids. Close enough.

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FSU's Flying High Circus is open to the public – video

Last night was the opening show, I wish I was there. I’ll be there tonight paying full price with my family.

Showtimes are at 7 Monday through Saturday until August 2nd. General admission is $24 for adults and $16 for kids 4 and up.

Click after the break for a video.

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Circus by the Sea is here!

The tent started going up Monday and was completed yesterday with performances to begin June 13th at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. The performers will be here full time beginning June 1.

“Over the next couple of weeks, it will transform into something like a city,” said Chad Matthews, director of the FSU Flying Circus.

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Panama City Beach featured in AJC

“Panama City Beach rocks with new attractions, hotels, eateries”, the title reads. Atlanta, arguably PCB’s biggest fan, featured an article talking about all the new stuff that has come to our beach in the last year. In addition to all the new shops and restaurants that are now available at Pier Park, the FSU Flying High Circus will be coming to Frank Brown Park this summer. They’ve got a contract to do this for the next 10 years. Trapeze artists, clowns, jugglers and acrobatic daredevils will be performing 6 nights a week with many of the performers also being instructors at a summer camp hosted for children ages 7-12.