Step right up! The circus is coming to Edinburgh’s Old Town

GreaterGrassmarket’s free family-friendly Circus Weekend returns for its second year

The Greater Grassmarket Business Improvement District’s (BID) free Circus Weekend returns to Edinburgh on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June (11.30am – 4.30pm), in association with travelling circus school and performance company, Let’s Circus.

This year, Circus Alba will be showcasing the best of Edinburgh’s youth circus talent in a brand new show developed exclusively for the Circus Weekend, taking place at 12.30pm each day.

Japan’s leading comedy circus street theatre duo, Witty Look, will be performing their 35-minute headline show at 3.30pm each day. The duo, which includes a former Guinness World Record world champion unicyclist, combine extraordinary acrobatics with unicycling.

From 11.30am – 3.30pm, visitors to the Circus Weekend can take part in the free Circus School,
learning how to perform tight wire, trapeze, unicycle and acrobatics in the outdoor circus ring. There will be specialist workshops from each artist performing at the Circus Weekend.

Let’s Circus is the leading UK provider of street-based circus events, bringing the best international performers and a quality circus school experience to Scotland. The Greater Grassmarket’s Circus Weekend will feature an international team of artists from the UK, Kenya, Japan and Australia who will work alongside the best of Scottish circus talent.

The Circus Weekend is part of a line-up of summer events organised by the Greater Grassmarket BID in order to attract visitors to the Greater Grassmarket area. These free events are fully funded by local businesses.

Norrie Stewart, Grassmarket BID Project Manager, says: “We’re delighted that our Circus Weekend is returning this year along with Let’s Circus. This year’s Circus Weekend will be bigger and better than ever, with international acts coming from as far as Japan and Kenya, and including a former Guinness World Record holder!

“With workshops, spectacular acrobatic shows and comedy performances, our Circus Weekend is the perfect family day out.”

Steve Cousins, artistic director of Let’s Circus, says: “We can’t wait to come back to the Greater Grassmarket for the second Circus Weekend. We’ve got some great stuff that will get the whole
family involved – whether it’s watching the street performances and being just metres away from the action, or taking part in our Circus School workshops, there will be something for everyone! This year’s line-up of shows and activities is exceptional – a really good national and international line-up.

Where else can you watch multi-award winning acts perform, learn to fly on the trapeze and walk a tightrope all for free whilst enjoying such a great location?”

The Greater Grassmarket’s free Circus Weekend takes place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th
June from 11.30am – 4.30pm, with performances on the Greater Grassmarket’s Community Stage at 12.30pm and 3.30pm each day.