Cirque du Soleil raises its ‘Big Top’ In Montgomery County

UPPER PROVIDENCE — The countdown is officially underway to the debut of the latest Cirque du Soleil show to visit Montgomery County — now that crews have raised the big top that will house the performances.

Cirque du Soleil brings BAZZAR to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center this month for a one-month engagement. It marks the U.S. debut of the new show, which will run from Sept. 26 through Oct. 22.

The skies cleared Wednesday afternoon as a crew of about 80 raised the tent from the ground up. The tent, which seats more than 2,600, is 62 feet high and 167 feet in diameter. It is supported by four masts, each of which is 82 feet tall and can withstand winds of up to 75 mph.

The tent is visible from Route 422.

It is made of a light-colored canvas that helps counter the effects of the sun, reducing energy use and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the troupe.

Motorists driving along Route 422 past the site at the Expo Center in recent days have noticed activity at the site, as 80 containers holding the nearly 1,000 tons of equipment were delivered in preparation for the construction.

The Big Top is just one piece of Cirque du Soleil’s engagement in Montgomery County. The site includes a “village” that is going up around the tent. There is a rehearsal tent complete with wardrobe; dressing rooms; physiotherapy, massage and first aid services; an entrance tent with concession stands and merchandising kiosks; a truck for the on-site box office; and seven trucks that open to become a kitchen — complete with dining area and outdoor patio.

It takes eight days to fully set up the BAZZAR site, and three days to break it down.

BAZZAR is the third time Cirque du Soleil has brought a show to the county. The iconic entertainment troupe first came to the area in 2018 with VOLTA, returning in 2019 with AMALUNA.

Mike Bowman, president and CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board told MediaNews Group in March that his organization is honored Cirque du Soleil returned to the region for the North American premiere of BAZZAR.

“They want to be here, and we want them here. Based on consumer behavior, we know folks are looking for this type of quality entertainment,” he said in March. As it did with the previous shows, the tourism board played a role in bringing the entertainment company to Montgomery County for this third engagement.

A study conducted in 2019 by tourism data technology firm Zartico following AMALUNA’s engagement found that the show brought $1.6 million in positive economic impact to Valley Forge and Montgomery County including hotel stays, food, and retail, according to the tourism board.

The Show

Cirque du Soleil’s BAZZAR is an “eclectic lab of infinite creativity where a joyful troupe of acrobats, dancers and musicians craft an awe-inspiring spectacle,” according to the company’s description of the show.

The show features a cast of 35 international performers and musicians, and includes teeterboard, portage, acrobatic bike, contortion, duo roller skates, duo trapeze, aerial rope, hair suspension, fire manipulation, and slackline. The show also features an act of Mallakhamb — “a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane or hanging rope,” a press release about the show stated.

BAZZAR was created in 2018 and toured in India and the Middle East before being relaunched in September 2022 in Brazil. It has also toured in South America.

For information and tickets visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/bazzar