Circus Animals
Performers
Circus Food
Circus Trivia
Circus Unscramble
(Performers)
(Performers)
Circus Unscramble
(Random)
(Random)
100
These large Animals with a long trunk walk in a conga line and dances in the circus!
An Elephant
100
This circus performer wears lots of makeup, tries to make people laugh and often has a bright red nose!
A Clown!
A clown is a comedic performer who uses physical comedy, exaggerated makeup, and costumes to entertain audiences in a circus. Circus clowns combine different techniques like slapstick, mime, and juggling to create humorous acts that often involve a unique blend of physical skills and theatricality.
100
This popular circus food is a salty snack in a shell that needs to be broken open in order to eat it.
Peanuts!
Salted Peanuts originated with the traveling circuses where vendors sold salted peanuts and candy. By all accounts, circus peanuts date to the 1800s when they were a seasonal treat. Peanuts were an inexpensive and easy-to-handle snack for people of all ages attending the circus. Another version of "circus peanuts" are marshmallows made into the shape of a peanut but actually tasted like banana!
100
Many modern circuses no longer feature animals, inspired by this popular French-Canadian circus company.
Cirque du Soleil!
it was founded in Quebec and has its international headquarters in Montreal. The company originated in 1984 with a group of street performers in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, and has since grown into one of the largest and most celebrated contemporary circus producers in the world!
100
LWCNO
CLOWN
100
USCRIC
CIRCUS
200
This barking animal performs circus tricks while sometimes wearing a costume to wow the crowd!
200
This Performer continuously tosses and catches balls and other items in the air. What is this performer doing?
Juggling!
A juggler keeps several objects, such as balls, clubs, or rings, in motion by repeatedly tossing and catching them, with at least one object always in the air, to entertain audiences in settings like circuses, festivals, and street performances. Jugglers perform various tricks and patterns, often incorporating elements of comedy, balance, and coordination into their acts.
Juggling: Play at 1 min 50 seconds
200
This snack pops from a kernel and is often topped with butter and salt.
Popcorn!
Popcorn became a staple at circuses and other outdoor events in the mid-1800s for several reasons: it was affordable, portable, easy to make without a full kitchen, and its appealing aroma attracted customers. Vendors used the newly invented mobile, steam-powered popcorn machines (patented by Charles Cretors in 1885) to follow crowds at fairs, circuses, and sporting events.
200
The famous performing Animal inspired this English word "Jumbo" meaning huge?
A) Giraffe
B) Hippo
C) Elephant
C) Elephant
200
LJGREUG
JUGGLER
200
USPAENT
PEANUTS
300
These large wild cats jump through hoops and pose on colourful stools at the circus!
Lions & Tigers!
300
Who is the person welcomes the audience and introduces each circus act. They usually wearing a fancy top hat and costume.
A) Circus King
B) Ringmaster
C) Clown Creator
B) Ringmaster
A circus ringmaster is the master of ceremonies who introduces acts, engages the audience, and leads the show. Often seen in a flamboyant costume, their duties can also include organizing the show's program, ensuring safety, and even being the owner or artistic director of the circus, especially in smaller productions.
The Greatest Showman:
300
This fluffy, sweet treat is made of spun sugar, food colouring, and flavouring that resembles a cloud.
Cotton Candy!
It is made by heating sugar until it liquefies and is then spun through a machine with tiny holes, forcing the liquid into thin strands that solidify into a fluffy mass when they hit the cool air. It is commonly sold at the circus, fairs and amusement parks and has other names like "fairy floss" or "candy floss".
How Its Made:
300
What is the iconic red and white stripped circus tent known as?
A) Carnival Tent
B) The Big Top
C) Circus Centre
B) The Big Top
Red and white circus tents are known as "big tops" because the name emerged in the mid-1800s when circus tents became larger to house multiple rings and performances, eventually becoming synonymous with the circus itself. The term "big top" simply refers to the large size of the main tent, a tradition started by Joshua Purdy Brown around 1825 when he began using canvas tents for his traveling circus.
300
ATBRCAO
ACROBAT
300
NTEPAHEL
ELEPHANT
400
This aquatic mammal performs tricks and balances a ball on their nose!
400
This circus performer balances and walks on a rope or wire high up in the air. Are They Called:
A) Tightrope Walker
B) Rope Balancer
C) Rope Reacher
A) Tightrope Walker
A tightrope walker is an acrobat and performer who skillfully walks on a thin, tightly stretched wire or rope high above the ground! Many tightrope walkers use a long, weighted pole to increase their rotational inertia and help them resist rotation, making it easier to stay balanced.
Tightrope Walker
400
This crisp fruit is dipped into a liquid sugary coating and eaten off of a stick
Candy Apples!
Candy apples are sold at circuses because they quickly became popular after being invented in 1908 and became a staple at circuses, boardwalks, and candy shops across the country. Their bright, shiny appearance and sweet, crunchy nature made them a perfect and portable treat to sell at public events. A candy maker, William W. Kolb, first created candy apples in 1908 when he dipped apples in red cinnamon candy to display in his shop window. Candy Apple are sometimes rolled in other toppings like, caramel, chocolate, nuts, cookie crumble and more!
400
The word “circus” comes from Latin and also means this shape?
A) Square
B) Circle
C) Triangle
B) Circle
Circus literally means "circle". The word comes from the Latin word circus, which means "ring" or "circle," and it refers to the circular performance area where the shows take place.
400
ERSANTMTRGI
RINGMASTER
400
ONLOSBAL
BALLOONS
500
This animal swings around the circus, rides bicycles and loves bananas.
500
What does a Trapeze Artist perform at the circus?
A) Performs tricks and swings from bar to bar high in the air
B) Set traps around the circus to trick people and make them laugh
C) A performer that lifts heavy weights
Trapeze Artist
A trapeze artist is an acrobat who performs aerial stunts using a trapeze, which is a horizontal bar suspended by ropes or cables. They are known for their strength, balance, and coordination as they swing, flip, and catch each other in mid-air. These performers are often a main attraction at circuses, aerial dance shows, and other live entertainment.
500
This common circus snack food is a chewy, golden brown bread-like baked good formed into a unique shape and often topped with salt and dipped into a cheese sauce or mustard.
Soft Pretzel!
Soft pretzels are sold at the circus largely due to their historical development as popular, convenient street food and a specific anecdote that links them to the classic "bread and circuses" idea of providing simple food and entertainment to the masses. Pretzels are an inexpensive, simple food made from basic ingredients (flour, water, salt, yeast). This made them a widely accessible and popular snack for the general public attending the circus.
500
What is the oldest known circus act?
A) Sword Swallowing
B) Juggling
C) Unicycling
B) Juggling
The earliest forms of human circus acts were juggling, acrobats, and balancing acts, with evidence of these performances in ancient Egypt as early as 1250 BCE. The skill of juggling is likely as old as humankind itself, with records existing from various ancient civilizations. Another long performing circus act is clowning!
500
NGSMOTARN
STRONGMAN
500
UQCRIE UD ILOSLE
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
600
This Colourful Bird can talk and perform tricks to entertain the crowd at the circus!
Parrots!
Parrots at circuses perform various tricks such as jumping through hoops, pulling small carts, and, due to their ability to mimic sounds and dance to music, they can also be trained to perform "quick change" acts or fly on command. They can also incorporate their vocal and movement abilities into more complex displays that can be integrated into the show's narrative.
Play Video at 40 seconds
600
This circus performer uses a puppet or "dummy" and makes it look like they are speaking independently to wow the audience.
Circus Ventriloquist!
A circus ventriloquist is a performer who uses the art of ventriloquism to entertain audiences by making it appear as if a puppet or dummy is speaking independently. These performers are a classic act in circuses and other variety shows, often combining comedy, storytelling, and the illusion of conversation with their figures.
600
This sweet snack food is a deep-fried pastry made from a simple, pancake-like batter squeezed into hot oil to fry it. It is often topped with powdered sugar, ice cream or a strawberry sauce.
Funnel Cakes!
Funnel cakes became a popular circus and fair snack because they are easy and quick to make in large quantities, are highly portable, and offer a unique, indulgent sensory experience that is part of the festive atmosphere. Funnel cakes are made from simple, inexpensive ingredients (flour, eggs, milk, sugar, baking powder) and the process of pouring the batter through a funnel into hot oil to create a "lacy" shape is quick and straightforward for vendors.
600
Where did the modern Circus originate?
A) England
B) Germany
C) France
A) England
The modern circus originated in England in 1768 with Philip Astley, a former cavalry officer who created a circular arena for equestrian stunts. He later added other performers, like acrobats and clowns, to create a full show. The name "circus" comes from Astley's circular performance space.
600
TQILREVTSIUNO
VENTRILOQUIST
Ventriloquist
600
TNREMNETIAETN
ENTERTAINMENT