While rambling around Nederland on Saturday, July 27, 2024, you may have noticed the white peaks of a Big Top tent poking above the tree line at Chipeta Park. The second annual Carousel of Happiness Summer Circus returned to bring an unforgettable, authentic Big Top experience to the kids and fun-loving adults of our small town.

On the basketball court and front lawn of Chipeta Park, carnival games of varying levels of difficulty were set up, incentivizing kids to try their luck at tossing rings, or hatchets, to win some candy. The carnival games themselves were manned by local volunteers, many of whom built the games in their own backyards.

As carnival goers waited in line to get their faces painted or to get a custom balloon sword, performers entertained throughout, including stilt-walkers and fairy dancers gracefully posing with the young, enthusiastic crowd.

Under the pavilion, hot dogs, popcorn, and similar carnival fare was served, as well as milkshakes, smoothies, and vodka lemonade for the more grown up fans of the carnival.

A pirate’s life for all: Circus Foundry professionally performed a perfect pirate-themed production. Top, right: The pose right before an outrageous sword juggling act. Bottom: Chipeta Park was full of winged fairies, ready to dance and play with everyone at the circus.[/caption]

Wild Bear Nature Center hosted more games on Chipeta Park’s main field, right in front of the Big Top, with a chance to win a variety of prizes. As a line for the main show started to form in front of the tent, a magician wowed audiences with flawless card and coin tricks, and a fortune teller offered his sagely advice.

The afternoon performance by the contemporary performance troupe Circus Foundry was pirate-themed and featured a perfect combination of deck-swabbing humor and swashbuckling stunt work.

The agile and athletic performers stretched, balanced, toppled, and twirled through a variety of acts and sketches, including a hair-raising sword juggling performance, a rousing plank walk competition, and an elegant dance high above the ground.

The second annual Carousel of Happiness Summer Circus was an event run by volunteers and sponsored by Ace Hardware, B&F Mountain Market, Boulder County Kids, Bowyer D’Alessandro and Associates, Distinct Real Estate LLC, Knotted Root, and The Mountain- Ear. All proceeds earned from the circus goes to the continued operation and maintenance of The Carousel of Happiness.

A big thanks to all those who dedicated their time and effort to make this event a successful extension of the Carousel of Happiness in its mission to bring a smile to the faces of the community. And thanks to the amazing performers at Circus Foundry, who have trained hard in their craft to wow and entice audiences.

For more information on Circus Foundry go to: https://www.circusfoundry.com. For more information about the Carousel of Happiness go to: https://carouselofhappiness.org

Masters of their craft: Young circus goers carefully watch the magician’s hands as he performs a card trick.[/caption]

A performer balances a rose above her head for the Captain to aim for when showing his skills with a whip.[/caption]