April 13, 2025
by Amanda B. Starr, Metro Desk
All photos and graphics in this article prepared by Bricklyn Eagle staffer Ann Tiler Anderson with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
After a two year absence, the famed Barnum & Bricklyn Circus has come back to its home base at the Bricklyn Fairgrounds, after touring more than twenty other Inland LEGO cities and realms.
The Bricklyn Legotary is lead sponsor of the Circus’s much anticipated return to Bricklyn. As Legotary president Jerry Plater-Zybrick told us:
“The Barnum & Bricklyn Circus is undoubtedly the most popular attraction that we in Bricklyn share with the rest of the Inland world.”
“Crowds of LEGO people from Realms around the globe,” noted Plater-Zybrick, “have marveled at Barnum & Bricklyn’s dazzling Big Top show. Legotary chapters have been the principal sponsors of Barnum & Bricklyn during its 2024-2025 tour — and it’s all for a great cause, helping raise money to ensure that lower income LEGO families can afford high quality child care.”
“We at the Bricklyn Legotary,” Plater-Zybrick added, “are excited to see the Barnum & Bricklyn return to its home base of Bricklyn. The Big Top will be packed for both afternoon and evening shows so Bricklynites, get your tickets now.”
Tom Brickorti, CEO of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, also applauded the Circus’s return. As Brickorti told us: “The Barnum & Bricklyn showcases the very best of Bricklyn. It’s an event that brings families together, and puts a smile on everyones’ face. It’s especially welcome during these challenging days we’ve been facing, when so many people are worried about Bricklyn’s future. The Barnum & Bricklyn is the perfect tonic we all need.”
During the Circus’s stay, Bricklyn donut mogul David Tiler Broffman is providing free donuts for all attendees.
As Broffman noted, “Dunk Them Donuts is proud to be a chief sponsor of the Barnum & Bricklyn Circus. We could think of no better way of supporting the Legotary’s fine work than by providing free donuts to every visitor … and that even includes Homer Simpson. As Homer would say, “there’s nothing like munching on a tasty Dunk Them Donut while sitting under the Big Top.”
Changes Under the Big Top
Visitors to the Barnum & Bricklyn Circus will find a few big differences this year. Most notably, the absence of lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
We asked Barnum & Bricklyn CEO Marv Strawbrick about this change.
As Strawbrick explained, “We’re focusing more on the artistry of our amazing performers, our jugglers, high wire artists, horse riders, acrobats, and clowns.”
“Circuses have come to realize,” said Strawbrick, “that having wild animals is not necessary to the circus experience. In fact, in surveys we have seen, a growing number of circus visitors have indicated their concern about the ethics of using wild animals in a circus.”
As Strawbrick continued, “while we at the Barnum & Bricklyn have always given priority to treating all of our animal performers kindly and with care, we understand these concerns, based though they are on some of those ‘bad apple, low-budget’ circuses you still find in parts of the Outland world.”
What Circus-Goers Like Best
In walking through the fairgrounds, we asked several circus-goers what they liked best about the circus. Among the many young people with smiles on their faces, we spoke with ten year old Melissa and twelve year old Thomas, both of whom were about to get some cotton candy, always a favorite at the circus.
“Wow. we Just saw the Big Top show,” Melissa said. “It’s so much better than even two years ago. I was just eight years old then. What I love best is Miss Tracy on the high wire. I thought, oh my god, how can she walk up there like that! While it would be scary, it would also be so exciting to be so high and see everyone looking so little down below. I just love the circus!” Then turning towards her parents, Melissa called out, “Mom, Dad, can we please come back to the Circus again next week?”
Thomas told us that what he liked best “was definitely the clowns,” explaining that “maybe it’s because I also like to clown around. Hey, I’m joking about that!”
Thomas added, “Most of the clowns are happy, but some are sort of scary looking and some look sad. Don’t know why. If I had a job as a clown I’d be walking around smiling all the time, while sticking out my tongue at people, or just playing jokes on them.”
“Being a clown,” Thomas concluded, “sure would be very cool and lots of fun.”
Outside the Big Top we chatted with some others in the crowd. Ellen Brickhouse, an elementary school teacher and resident of Bricklyn Junction, told us:
“It’s so enjoyable to come here with my sister and her two kids. They’re six and eight and it’s their first circus. What a great job Barnum & Bricklyn does. It really is a show for all ages, but especially for kids, or those of us older folks who are still kids at heart. With all the bad news I’ve been reading — and, yes, including in your newspaper — it’s so nice to be able to spend some stress-free time here at the Fairgrounds.”
We also spotted Federal Council member Bill B. Butler exiting the Big Top. “Yes, I’m using my day off from Brick Rail to see the circus,” Butler told us, explaining that “I’m a big fan of Barnum & Bricklyn, and especially love their beautiful horses and the fancy tricks they and their riders can do.”
“As you know,” Butler added, “we [the Bricklyn Federal Council] voted recently to make sure that the Bricklyn Fairgrounds — along with Riverside Park — will never become the site of a nuclear power plant.
“We’ve called for an investigation of that plan cooked up by former YMK Brickburger to sell the Fairgrounds to Nu-Clear Bricklyn so they can build a nuclear power plant right here where we’re standing. The Fairgrounds is really the only place in Bricklyn where we can hold a big event like the circus, and we’re going to keep it that way!”
That wraps it up for today. Reporting from the Bricklyn Fairgrounds and the Barnum & Bricklyn Circus, Amanda B. Starr for The Bricklyn Eagle.
p.s., I also want to report to you that photographer Ann Anderson, who caught me with that mega-sized chocolate donut, is also at this very minute munching on an equally large strawberry frosted donut loaded with sprinkles! ✥
We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com
To the Editor: Thank you for your coverage of this exciting event. Let’s hope that the Barnum & Bricklyn Circus spends more time in its hometown of Bricklyn. Coming every other year is just not often enough! — Nancy Sugarbrick, South Bricklyn, VT.
To the Editor: Just what’s the status with the Fairgrounds in light of the deal Nu-Clear Bricklyn “cooked up,” as Councilor Butler put it. Maybe we need a nuclear power plant, but I agree with the Councilor that it shouldn’t be at the Fairgrounds, especially since it’s the only site in Bricklyn that can accommodate the Circus and the Fall Expo. As I’ve said many times before, “common sense is something that everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack.” — Franklin B. Benjamin, Bricklyn Jct., VT.
Reply from the Editor: The Bricklyn Eagle will continue to follow the Federal Council initiated investigation into the deal former Yuppie-Mayor-King Brickburger made with C. Montgomery Burns that purportedly sold the Fairgrounds and Riverside Park sites to Nu-Clear Bricklyn, Inc. for construction of a nuclear power plant. It is noteworthy that Dunk Them Donuts magnate David Tiler Broffman has also been implicated in the Nu-Clear Bricklyn deal.
To the Editor: As a Vermont neighbor of Bricklyn, I want to make sure that readers are aware of the amazing Vermont-based Circus Smirkus, which tours with performances given by talented teens every Summer. Perhaps the Barnum & Bricklyn folks could arrange to have teenage Bricklynites visit a Circus Smirkus performance, as I believe one or two are scheduled within Vermont’s Outerlands. Here’s a delightful short video with highlights from the Circus Smirkus 2024 tour. — Terri S., Waterbury, VT.
