GREENFIELD — Step right up to the Franklin County Fairgrounds to see the return of the Greenfield Circus.
Now underway and continuing through Sunday, July 12, the Greenfield Circus brings the familiar sight of Lucy the Tent, named for the late Lucille Ball, back to the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Wisdom Way. The Melha Shriners Clown Unit has partnered with Westchester Circus Arts to revive a community tradition with a modern twist.
While longtime circus fans can expect classic clown antics, juggling and acrobatics, this year’s production is also distinctly contemporary. There are no animal acts; rather, the focus is on the talent of performers, storytelling and creating lasting memories for families.
Chris Howe, chief clown of the Melha Shriners Clown Unit, said bringing the circus back has been years in the making.
“We haven’t done it since 2018,” Howe said. “We’re trying to reinvent it and bring it back.”
Howe and Westchester Circus Arts Co-Director Carlo Pellegrini had been discussing the community’s fond memories of the circus and agreed it was time to restore what had become a cherished local tradition.
After several years away, the pieces finally came together to bring the show back to Franklin County. For Pellegrini, whose company produces intimate touring circus experiences throughout the Northeast, the opportunity fit perfectly with his philosophy of building community, rather than simply passing through town.
“It’s a family affair, so it’s an investment that we’re making into this community,” Pellegrini said. “We like to build relationships wherever we perform.”
Westchester Circus Arts works with local organizations and incorporates community involvement into each show. This year’s partnership with the Melha Shriners Clown Unit continues that approach.
The circus itself will be presented under an Italian-made, 300-seat tent designed to create a close-up experience.
“Nobody’s more than 25 feet from the center ring,” Pellegrini said. “You’ll be able to see the performers breathe and work.”
The lineup includes aerial acts, balancing, juggling, comedy and classic clown routines that evoke the feel of a traditional American circus, according to Pellegrini.
Howe said one of the biggest draws is simply the quality of the performers.
“There are lots of good acts,” he said.
Pellegrini noted that while animals were once central to circus performances, today’s audiences often connect more with performers and storytelling.
“With no animals, we rely on theater,” he said. “The clowns and the performers are the entertainment value.”
His own career has followed an unconventional path. Before his wife and business partner, Hilary Sweeney, launched Westchester Circus Arts, Pellegrini created circus programs for young people and at-risk youth. Together, the couple eventually traded plans to renovate a warehouse into a circus school for a circus tent of their own.
Since then, they have produced historical and theatrical circus productions throughout New England and New York, including performances inspired by “The Raven,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and the industrial history of North Adams. The Greenfield performances are designed to capture the spirit of an old-fashioned family circus.
“This is more like the fun, family-friendly circus you would have seen in the 1950s,” Pellegrini said. “There’ll be a lot of vaudeville in it.”
While the acts promise excitement, both organizers said the true purpose of the weekend extends beyond entertainment. Howe finds that it’s about creating memories that children will carry with them for years. Pellegrini shares that belief, saying live entertainment offers something technology never can.
“Everyone sits on their phone or their screen,” he said. “But when it’s live, there’s a connection between the audience and the performer that’s extraordinary.”
The human connection is exactly what Pellegrini hopes families experience under the big top. The organizers hope this weekend marks the beginning of something much larger.
“We want to make this an annual tradition,” Pellegrini said.
After a 7 p.m. performance on Friday, July 10, additional shows will be held on Saturday, July 11, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 12, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit greenfieldcircus.com/#schedule&tickets.
