The Gerbola Big Top has been pitched up in the centre of Waterford City for the first time and in addition as an inaugural event, a brand new Christmas Circus has been created and unveiled by the legendary eight-generation family circus company who are Ireland’s best-rated traditional circus.
The Christmas Circus show is one hour long and is set to amaze and delight the whole family this Christmas. The show will feature the favourite Circus acts including three motorcyclists in the breathtaking Globe of Steel, hilarious clowns, mesmerizing acrobats and much more all in a heated festive big top.
Circusgoers are certainly in for a laugh as the Gerbola family specialises in clowning and goes back eight generations including Mikey’s grandfather, Ralph Gerbola. He married Amy Foote of the Foote circus family based in England. The only child from this marriage was Michele E. Gerbola, Mikey’s father, who married Mona, née Fossett. Michael and Mona Gerbola had three children, Lisa, Caroline and Mikey all of whom work in Circus today.
Commenting on the Christmas shows at Winterval, Tara Gerbola says, “We have put together a really special Christmas Circus for audiences at Winterval. So far, the crowds have loved every moment of our festive performances. Our location right in the heart of the Winterval festival offers families a wonderful opportunity to sit back and relax for an hour to enjoy a very special Christmas circus spectacle in our heated big top.”
Gerbola Christmas Circus performances are on offer multiple times each weekend of the festival, tickets are €10 per person and available from www.winterval.ie In addition there are special Sensory Friendly Christmas Circus performances on offer on November 25, Dec 2 and Dec 19.
The Christmas Circus is part of the Winterval Festival which is underway in Waterford City until December 23rd.
Highlights include the vintage Ferris wheel at Arundel Square, a vintage carousel, the Port of Waterford Eye, the Winterval Mini Express train, a virtual ride in Santa’s sleigh plus a Wizards and Dragons interactive exhibition and even Santa Paws for doggies and Waterford’s heritage takes a prime position with Déise Medieval will host a traditional Viking Settlement plus Santa’s Central Station is on Broad Street where he is meeting and greeting boys and girls for the entire festival.
In addition, there is an abundant programme of Music and Theatre. Ben Hennessy presents a new Shadow Puppetry Show at the beautiful GLOW Gardens at Winterval on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. At the Apple Market each weekend a free show sponsored by WAMA & Theatrebox, which will engage with young spectators who can take part in the collection of Santa’s posts will be on offer. Join Winterval’s Resident Storyteller Kitty Caboodle for a selection of songs and stories at The Book Centre.
The Winterval Live Stage offers 20 Days of Live Performances during the festival. House of Waterford Crystal is delighted to present its Annual Winter Music Series and this is lots more.
You will find Gerbola’s Christmas Circus at the Winterval Big Top at the Top of New Street, Waterford City. The closest Eircode is X91 AKD0 (Singer Sewing Centre).
The full Winterval Festival programme is available to view and book online at www.winterval.ie
