FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The shimmer of sequins. The gasp of an audience. The splash of water under acrobatic flips. It’s all coming to Fort Wayne as Cirque Italia, a European-style water circus, rolls into town for a weekend of gravity-defying entertainment.

From June 13 through 15, the Glenbrook Square parking lot will transform into a surreal spectacle zone—part Las Vegas, part old-world circus, and completely unlike anything else on the summer calendar.

The European Circus, Reimagined in America

Cirque Italia is not your typical traveling show. There are no elephants, lions, or fire rings here. Instead, the main attraction is a state-of-the-art water stage, designed to dazzle.

Picture a 35,000-gallon custom-built water platform with dancing fountains, light choreography, and high-wire acts—all under a gleaming white and blue Big Top tent.

Founded in Italy and based in Florida, Cirque Italia brings European circus traditions to American soil with a modern twist. Think Cirque du Soleil meets Venice’s Grand Canal, in the middle of a Fort Wayne shopping mall.

“People are always surprised,” said Wayne Herrschaft, a longtime spokesperson for the tour. “They walk in expecting a small local show and leave feeling like they’ve seen something from Vegas.”

Glenbrook Square: From Shopping Hub to Circus Ground

For three days, the northern edge of Fort Wayne will be home to this traveling aquatic circus. The tent—visible from Coliseum Boulevard—will be hard to miss.

Show Schedule:

• Friday, June 13 – 7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, June 14 – 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, June 15 – 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Each show runs approximately two hours with a short intermission. Tickets are on sale now at www.cirqueitalia.com, or you can purchase them at the on-site box office beginning the week of the show.

What You’ll See: More Than Just Acrobatics

Cirque Italia’s strength lies not just in its performers—but in its immersive design. From aerialists and jugglers to roller-skating duos and gravity-defying pole artists, the show is built to awe.

Expect acts such as:

• Water-ballet aerial duets, spinning mid-air as jets of water shoot in rhythmic patterns.

• Hula hoop artistry, performed entirely within a cascade of mist and colored light.

• Death-defying high-wire walks, elevated above the drenched circular stage.

• A contortionist emerging from a giant glass bowl, folding into human origami.

All of this unfolds with zero animals—one of Cirque Italia’s core principles. The focus is entirely on human talent and spectacle, underscored by pulsing music and cutting-edge water effects.

Behind the Tent: The Life of a Traveling Water Circus

Cirque Italia is constantly on the move. The company travels to more than 100 cities annually, often covering over 30,000 miles in a year. For the performers, that means living on the road—training, sleeping, and rehearsing in trailers and tents.

“It’s a nomadic life, but there’s a magic in bringing joy to a different town every week,” said one performer who’s been with the company for three years.

Their custom-designed stage, lighting rigs, sound systems, and the enormous water tank are all packed into trucks and reassembled like clockwork.

The Logistics of Magic: Water on the Move

The most distinctive feature of Cirque Italia is also its most complicated: water.

The water stage, which uses over 35,000 gallons, requires a team of engineers to ensure it is safely installed, filtered, and recycled. Advanced pumps and timed fountains create fluid motion around the performers.

“It’s like a symphony, but with water and motion,” said the tour’s production manager. “It’s the only one of its kind traveling across the country.”

Despite its spectacle, Cirque Italia is still family-oriented and affordable. General admission starts at around $25, with tiered pricing for ringside seats and VIP packages.

How to Get Tickets

Cirque Italia’s box office will be open onsite at Glenbrook Square from Tuesday, June 10, running daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and during show days from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can also:

• Visit: www.cirqueitalia.com

• Call: (941) 704-8572

Discounts are often available for children and military families.

What Fort Wayne Can Expect

While the city has hosted various entertainment acts over the years—from rock concerts to county fairs—Cirque Italia promises something distinct: a European circus tradition, modernized with water effects and circus artistry.

For Fort Wayne families seeking something extraordinary this summer—or a break from their weekend Target run—this mid-June pop-up could be the city’s most surprising cultural moment.

“We want every audience member to walk away with wide eyes and full hearts,” said Herrschaft. “That’s why we keep doing it. That’s the whole point.”