Circus Vargas returns to Temecula
Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise Jon Weiss, the host of and a performer in Circus Vargas, balances a shopping cart on his chin as workers set up the big top in the parking lot of The Promenade mall Tuesday. The shows start tonight. Weiss has spent 30 years in the circus world, the last four years with Circus Vargas.Wednesday, March 30, 2011
By TIFFANY AUSTIN-SUNIGA, Special to The Press-Enterprise Circus Vargas is back for a second year in Temecula. Shows under the big top start tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the circus located in the parking area near Macy's at The Promenade mall. The circus will be in town until April 11. Circus Vargas extended its typical one-week stint because of the overwhelming "appreciation" performers felt from local patrons, trapeze artist and owner Katya Quiroga said. "Last year was like a test coming here for a week," Quiroga said. "But we were so happy with the response we went to two weeks because of the audience here." Quiroga, who owns the circus with her husband, Nelson, is a seventh-generation circus performer. She and her husband became the owners of Circus Vargas in 2005 and take their theater-style tent, which seats 1,500, to California cities throughout the year. Jon Weiss, host of the event and a balancing artist, said that Circus Vargas is different than other circuses. "This is the place that people go if they are looking for something upscale, more intimate, and more family oriented," Weiss said. Weiss performed for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for 26 years before joining Circus Vargas four years ago. Long-time friends with the owners, Weiss along with his, wife, who also performs in the show, left Ringling Bros. to join Vargas in search of a more "family-like" environment. That environment is what he said he and performers feel when they come to Temecula. "Every city has something special to offer, but we really enjoy the way people here really embrace us and the show," Weiss said.
Workers raise the Circus Vargas sign on top of the big top. The circus can seat 1,500. The small cast of Circus Vargas will be featured in the film "Water for Elephants," which opens April 22 and stars Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. "Out of all the top-notch circus acts in the world, we were chosen to appear in that movie because we stay true to the historical roots of the circus," Weiss said. Leo Garcia, who performs motorcycle acts in a cage, said this year's production is better than the 2010 version. "We can't give too much away, but this year it's like an entirely different show," Garcia said. "Our equipment is better, our performances are better. We are doing things we've never done." Circus Vargas is known for excluding animals from its show. But officials said they don't believe the lack of animal acts detracts from their circus' appeal. "Showing everyone that we care for animals by not using them seems to only enhance the show," Garcia said. Weiss urged the public to take a brief reprieve from reality at the circus. "We want to make a difference in people's ordinary, stressful day," Weiss said. "Our job is to create that moment, that memory of the circus that will last a lifetime." 
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