Circus Smirkus: Vermont’s Youth Circus, Its Tour and Its Future
Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall in Burlington, Vermont, in autumn. Photo: hbp_pix / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
For nearly four decades, one of Vermont’s most distinctive cultural institutions has been a youth circus based in a small Northeast Kingdom town. Circus Smirkus, headquartered in Greensboro, trains young people in traditional circus arts and, in most summers, sends a troupe of teenage performers across New England under a traveling big top.
The founder and the idea
Circus Smirkus was founded in 1987 by Rob Mermin, a mime and clown who had performed with circuses in Europe. Mermin’s idea was that young people, given professional coaching and real responsibility, could perform genuine circus, not a school talent show, for paying audiences.
The organization became a nonprofit with a mission built around youth, community and the circus arts. Its name, a playful twist on “circus,” became familiar across Vermont.
The Big Top Tour
The best-known Smirkus program has been the Big Top Tour. Each summer, a troupe of performers chosen by audition, generally ages 10 to 18, rehearses for weeks and then travels from town to town for several weeks of shows. Performers do acrobatics, aerial acts, juggling, wire walking, clowning and more. Professional coaches, directors, crew and musicians support them.
The tour has taken performers to small towns and larger cities across New England, often to fairgrounds and town fields. Over the years, troupe members and campers have also performed informally in public spaces such as Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.
Performers have come from Vermont, from across the U.S. and from other countries. Some alumni have gone on to professional circus, theater and entertainment careers.
2026: A pause and a rebuild
Like many arts nonprofits, Circus Smirkus has faced serious financial pressure. In 2026, Seven Days reported that the organization had avoided bankruptcy but might cancel its Big Top Tour, and Circus Smirkus later confirmed that the 2026 Big Top Tour would not take place. The organization has said it plans to rebuild a more sustainable tour for 2027 while continuing other programs.
For a group whose identity has long centered on the summer tour, that’s a significant change. Supporters will be watching how the nonprofit rebuilds its finances and touring model.
Camp and school programs
Beyond the tour, Smirkus has run:
- Smirkus Camp in Greensboro, where young people learn circus skills over residential and day sessions, with an emphasis on teamwork and trying new things rather than competition.
- School residencies and community programs, in which Smirkus coaches work with students in Vermont and elsewhere for days or weeks, sometimes ending in a student show.
Circus arts programs often say they build physical fitness, coordination, confidence and cooperation, since many acts depend on trusting a partner.
Why it matters to Vermont
Circus Smirkus brings visitors and attention to the Northeast Kingdom, one of Vermont’s most rural regions, and it gives young people a rare path into the performing arts. It’s also part of a broader Vermont tradition of small, idiosyncratic cultural institutions with outsized reputations.
How to learn more or support
Circus Smirkus posts its camp schedules, audition information and tour updates on its website. Readers interested in volunteering, donating or hosting a future show can contact the organization directly.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Circus Smirkus based? Its headquarters and camp are in Greensboro, in Orleans County in the Northeast Kingdom, near Caspian Lake.
Who can perform on the Big Top Tour? Historically, troupe members have been young performers chosen by audition, generally ages 10 to 18. The organization posts audition requirements and eligibility dates on its website. Because the tour is being rebuilt for 2027, check current audition plans directly with Smirkus.
Do campers need circus experience? Camp programs have been designed for a range of skill levels, including beginners. Sessions and age groups vary by year.
Is Circus Smirkus a business or a charity? It’s a nonprofit organization. Ticket sales, camp tuition, donations and grants have all helped fund its programs, which is why financial pressure on any one of those sources can affect the tour.
How can schools bring in Smirkus? Schools can ask about residency programs, in which coaches teach circus skills to students over several days or weeks.
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Sources
- Circus Smirkus, About Us: https://www.smirkus.org/mission/
- Circus Smirkus, About the Big Top Tour: https://www.smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
- Seven Days, “Circus Smirkus Dodges Bankruptcy but May Cancel Its 2026 Big Top Tour”: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/
