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Shrine Circus

Circus & Specialty Acts

Shrine Circus Tickets

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About

Shrine Circus on Tour

For more than a century, the Shrine Circus has dazzled audiences around the U.S. with family-friendly delights. Shriners chapters all over the country sponsor these circuses annually, offering their members a chance to reach out to the community and giving children of all ages the chance to see thrilling stunts and exotic animals at reasonable prices. The Shrine Circus has been a bedrock of many American communities' yearly calendars for decades, creating a long-lasting tradition that builds bonds both in and between families.

Shrine Circus Background

Established in 1872, Shriners International has been one of America's premier fraternities promoting fellowship and brotherhood. Known throughout the world for their philanthropic efforts with Shriners Hospitals for Children, which offers sliding-scale medical services to children in need of orthopedic, cleft lip and palate, burn, and spinal injury care, the Shriners have also been beloved for the circuses they put on around the country. 

Similar to the mission of the Shriners Hospitals, the Shrine Circus puts the idea of affordability for all families front and center. The first Shrine Circus was held in 1906 in Detroit at the Moslem Shrine Center. Since then, Shrine chapters all around the country have put on their own versions of the big show. While the circuses are more often held inside arenas than under big tops, attractions remain familiar, varying from city to city but usually including massive elephants, kooky yet friendly clowns, and high-flying acrobats. 

Circus stars like the Wallendas, Clyde Beatty, and the Zacchinis have all been included in the Shrine Circus' past lineups. In 2019, the Detroit Shrine Circus featured the Dominguez Motorcycle Stunt Show, made up of former Ringling Bros. daredevils who perform death-defying tricks while encased in a steel globe. The St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus is the longest continuously running Shrine Circus in the U.S.

Reviews

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 based on 2152 reviews
  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Super Fun For Grandchildren!

    by NanaKathy on 9/19/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    We brought our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and had a blast! Lots of fun, many things to see/do. She loved the pony rides before it started, clowns, acrobats, etc. Something for all ages. Highly recommended, and the Shriners are such a good cause.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    The guys from the Alzafar shrine were great!!

    by Rafainvitesu on 9/17/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    The circus was great! The intermission was costly. My daughter and I absolutley loved it. We would definately go again.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    family fun

    by maudi on 9/16/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    The entertainment was great for children as well as adults. The children had many activities to do before during and after the show. The entertainers were very energetic.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Circus was Great!!!

    by 1Mommy on 9/16/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    This was my very first time ever going to The Circus, I loved every part of the show!! It was exciting and the cast performed perfectly. My children loved it and we will be going every year from now on :)

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    frowning clown

    by Reynaldo on 9/15/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    Its not the circus that I remembered as a kid. There was not a 3 ring circus extragravenza going on at the same time. I remember my head spinning as a kid trying to capture all the events. But found it a bit boring as well as my 4 year old grandson I know it was 10 am and maybe the clowns were a bit tired, but the clowns didnt seem to want to socialize with the crowd. I didnt know how commercialized it had become until I had to pay $7.00 for a pony ride that went around only twice. And $6.00 to jump in air bag for 10 minutes. $10.00 for a Raspa ??????. I know that monies are needed to run a business, but at least provide the service as well.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    exciting!!!

    by Mely8913 on 9/15/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    The circus was very exciting!! kept the kids busy...but over all needed a magician!!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Shrine Circus was fantastic

    by MikeP333 on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    The Shriners really put on a great show which was enjoyable for the whole family both young and old alike.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Excellent show for the money

    by alpha111 on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    It is not perfect but it worth the money for show.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Human Cannon Ball was awsome!

    by smaxineb on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    I took my grandchildren, my granddaughter is only two, she sat at the edge of her seat the whole time clapping and laughing! She was so excited... my grandson is seven and couldn't stop talking about the human cannonball all the way home! This show in my opinion was well worth the money and time to go see. I was broke when I came out of there... but very happy as well! Thank you!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Good family fun

    by Jlop215 on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    Me and my daughter had a real good time. It was a goo father and daughter outing.....

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Shrine Circus was a family event

    by Lvmetndr04 on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    it was a really nice place to be at. very family oriented. I had the oppurtunity to take my 5yr old nephew. He loved it. He enjoyed the tigers and the motorcycle on the rope and many other things. It was a bit crammed in seating but it depends on the place where the circus is held. All in all it was really great. He was even able to ride the elephants.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Alzafar Shrine Circus

    by goto on 9/14/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    I especially enjoyed the little dog that came out of the elephant costume. The elephants looked tired and unhappy. The Tiger "trainer" acted too overdramatic. The tumblers did too much silly dancing around. All the acts were exciting and eye catching. Many feats of daring and excitment.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Circus was Great

    by mojophoto on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    All the acts were great. The kids loved the circus. All the interactivity was great. The rides for the kids. It was great for all ages.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    Do not go

    by Efactor on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    At first I believed this would be a fun family event and entertaining as well. Unfortunately, we had to leave early because we could not bear to see animals treated in such a cruel way. After a semi entertaining tiger show, the poor animals had to go reluctantly into their small cages. We ended up leaving after a ridiculous clown skit show set a poor example to adults and kids of how animals can be treated as toys. Animals are free spirits and should not be treated like a toy. YES, they are pets, but you should treat them with respect. A poor dog was dressed up as a toy elephant and was handled like a toy by the clown. After kicking several stuffed animals 20+ plus yards because he did not get them to move after winding them up, he drug this poor dog around like a rag doll. Holding it by its tail and feet and shaking the dog violently to "make it work" after pretending to wind it up. I am an animal lover as well as the lady that went with me, and we just could not bear to see this. I had to leave with my lady as she was in tears. If you want entertainment, this is not something you want to see. I admit there are some amazing human stunts, but this is not the example we want to set for our younger generations as to how to treat animals.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    awesome show

    by janinor02 on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    i really enojy the show and would recommed it. i would them to come back here again soon.

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    clowns

    by astroscubs on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    the seating arrangement were very disorganized the seats were sold through tickmaster and at the door

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing show

    by Anasko on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    I really loved the show. My experience is incredible!....

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    CIRCUS - WOW!

    by jespada7 on 9/13/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    Great stuff....glad I took the granddaughter. We'll have tremendous memories to share.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    elephants were amazing

    by circusclown25 on 9/12/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    i think the overall performance was great! this was my nephews first circus and he LOVED it! prices are a little overated but other than that everything was just perfect

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    KIDS WERE SMILING

    by coolbeans101 on 9/12/09Freeman Coliseum - San Antonio

    ANYTHING THAT MAKES MY KIDS SMILE AND HAPPY I ENJOY. MY GIRLS PARTICULARLY LIKED THE WOMEN WHO CLIMBED UP THESE LONG WHITE (LOOKS LIKES BED SHEETS) AND DANCED. THAT PERFORMANCE WAS SO PRETTY AND LIKE I SAID ME KIDS WERE SMILEING THE WHOLE TIME. OF COURSE THE KIDS LOVED ALL THE ANIMALS ELEPHANTS WERE THE BEST THEY HAVE SO MUCH PERSONALITY. I TRULY LOVED THE CLOWNS AND THAT ONE PERFORMANCE WERE THE CLOWN PLAYS WITH THREE STUFFED ANIMALS AND ONE IS REALLY REAL, I THINK THAT WAS ADORABLE!!!!!!! I PERSONALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE CLOWN ACTIVITY DURING THE SHOW. MY FRIEND THOUGHT THAT THE HUMAN CANNONBALL WAS REALLY COOL. THE ONLY THING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IS THE PRICE OF THINGS OMG!!!!!!!! 3 BOTTLED WATER WERE ALMOST 10 DOLLARS IT WAS RIDICULUOS THEY SHOULD CONSIDER MAYBE LOWER PRICES FOR KID SIZE THINGS. ANYWAY OVERALL THE SHOW WAS VERY GOOD, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I WOULD EVEN SAY WHEN THE CIRCUS COMES BACK WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AGAIN. MY CHILDREN HAD A WONDERFUL TIME