Circus Big Top Goes Up for 15 Shows

They’re about to raise the roof--or at least the tent--in Simi Valley.

Circus Vargas has come to town, and with it a bustle of construction activity.

This morning at 7, workers plan to begin constructing a 2,400-seat, one-ring big top at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road.

Visitors are free to stop by and watch the big top go up or view the circus animals, said Lewis Jenkins, director of operations.

The circus plans 15 shows through Sunday, complete with clowns, jugglers and acrobats. The show includes two elephants, eight ponies and 13 white tigers. The circus also will have an extensive petting zoo, Jenkins said.

“Anything you can imagine in a petting zoo, we’ve got it,” he said.

Simi Valley is the last Southern California stop for the circus, which will head north to Sacramento, Modesto and San Jose.

The show features performers from around the world and plays 42 locations a year, Jenkins said. Circus Vargas has not followed the trend of other circus companies that now favor acrobatic and gymnastic feats over animal acts.

“We are the traditional, old-fashioned, big-top circus,” he said. “We intend to remain that way.”

Show times are 7:30 p.m. today; 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Admission ranges from $10 to $21 for adults and $5 to $15 for children ages 2 to 11. For more information, call (805) 306-9094.