Circus performers human and otherwise put on a show during the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus’s last stop in North Bend in 2019.

C&M Circus bringing big top to North Bend

by Nathan Arneal
Published 7/10/24

NORTH BEND – The North Bend Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus.

This will be the third stop in North Bend for the circus after performances in front of a packed house – or tent, rather – in 2013 and 2019.

Bob Shanahan and Patrick Ningen are the chairmen of the event for the Chamber. Shanahan said he enjoyed the circus so much last time that he volunteer to help organize it this time.

“I was amazed at how much entertainment they brought to our small town,” Shanahan said. “I compare it to the DC Lynch Carnival at Old Settlers: it’s fun, it’s clean, its a great value for our town. They bring super family entertainment.”

The circus will visit North Bend Thursday, July 25, with shows at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It will set up in the same place it has previously in the Birchwood lot at 12th and Walnut streets, south of the high school.

The Culpepper & Merriweather is a traditional big-top circus. Shows last about 90 minutes presenting classic and unique circus acts. The 2024 show features Trey Key and the big cats, aerialist extraodinaire Simone on the trapeze, the 10th generation Loyal Bareback Horse Riders, the Perez Daredevil Duo on the tight rope and the Wheel of Destiny, Elizabeth Ayala’s incredible foot juggling and hair hang and everyone’s favorite circus clown, Leo Action. The show will entertain and drop jaws of all ages.

Discounted advance tickets are currently on sale in North Bend at the following locations: Platte Valley Bank, Liquid Courage, Medicine Man and North Bend Mini Mart. Advanced tickets cost $8 for youth ages 2-12 and seniors over 65 and $13 for adults.

Tickets will also be available at the circus box office an hour before the show at $16 for adults and $9 for children and seniors. A portion of all ticket sales go to the Chamber of Commerce.

The midway outside the big top tent also opens an hour before the show featuring pony rides, an inflatable slide, bounce house and more.
The public is invited to the tent raising at 11 a.m. the day of the show, where they will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the grounds and learn about life in the circus.

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