Philadelphia, PA – Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) brings back its annual Haunted Circus October 23–24, transforming its home inside a 100+ year old spooky historic West Mt. Airy church into a spellbinding world of aerialists, acrobats, mysterious characters, daring circus acts and Halloween surprises. This year’s Haunted Circus takes inspiration from witches, magic, covens and the supernatural, with two distinctly different experiences.
SPELLBOUND: A Circus Spectacle, a playful Halloween adventure for families on Saturday October 24, 2026 at 5:00pm. COVEN: A Bewitching Circus Experience, a darker, wickedly playful production created exclusively for audiences 18 and older will take flight on both Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 8:30pm nightly. Haunted Circus will take place at Circus Campus and PSCA at 6452 Greene St, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Tickets for the all-ages show are advance $15 adults and $10 youth (2-17), and at the door $20 adults and $15 youth. The adult-only show is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For more info and tickets, visit: phillycircus.com/upcoming-shows-events/
“Theatricality and storytelling have always been at the heart of what we do,” says Kitsie O’Neill, Executive Director of Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. “Circus and witchiness just seem to belong together – there’s already something magical about flying through the air, balancing in seemingly impossible ways and doing things that don’t seem quite humanly possible. Haunted Circus lets us lean into that magic, make it a little mysterious, a little mischievous and just a bit wicked.”
The weekend begins after dark on Friday, October 23, when COVEN gathers for the first of two adults-only performances. The family-friendly SPELLBOUND takes the stage Saturday afternoon, followed by a second performance of COVEN Saturday night.
SPELLBOUND: A Circus Spectacle
Saturday, October 24 at 5 p.m.
Something magical is stirring under the circus tent…
Created for families, SPELLBOUND features PSCA’s youth & teen Performance Prep students, adult students and staff taking to the air and stage with enchanting circus acts, mysterious characters and spooky surprises.
“Kids love Halloween, but not every kid wants to be terrified,” says O’Neill. “With SPELLBOUND, we wanted to capture that feeling of Halloween when you’re a kid – dressing up, staying out after dark, believing for a little while that magic might actually be real. There are thrills and chills, but the goal is for kids to leave excited, not hiding under the covers.”
Costumes are encouraged for audience members of all ages.
Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth ages 2–17. Tickets at the door are $20 for adults and $15 for youth.
COVEN: A Bewitching Circus Experience
Mature Themes, Horror, and Humor | Ages 18+
Friday, October 23 at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 at 8:30 p.m.
After dark, Haunted Circus gets a little more wicked.
COVEN brings together PSCA performers for an adults-only evening of aerial artistry, daring feats, mysterious rituals and wickedly playful performances.
“For COVEN, we can be a little more daring,” says O’Neill. “It can be darker, stranger, sexier and more surprising. We have this incredible building, performers flying overhead and an audience that is willing to follow us somewhere unexpected. For two nights, we get to turn the whole place into our own little coven.”
Guests are encouraged to come dressed to bewitch — witch, wanderer, curious mortal or something entirely their own.
COVEN is for audiences 18 and older. Tickets are $25 per person.
A PHILADELPHIA HALLOWEEN TRADITION
Haunted Circus has become an annual opportunity for PSCA students, faculty and performers to combine circus technique with theatrical storytelling and create original work specifically for Halloween.
The setting adds another layer to the experience: PSCA is housed in a converted church in West Mt. Airy, where aerial performers can soar high above the audience inside the dramatic former sanctuary.
“Circus already asks you to believe that impossible things can happen,” says O’Neill. “Someone climbs a piece of fabric twenty feet into the air, someone balances where they shouldn’t possibly be able to balance, someone flies. Add Halloween to that, and suddenly anything feels possible. That’s what I love about this show.”
EVENT DETAILS
EVENT DETAILS
SPELLBOUND: A Circus Spectacle
Saturday, October 24 | 5 p.m.
Family friendly
Advance: Adults $15 | Youth ages 2–17 $10
At the door: Adults $20 | Youth $15
COVEN: A Bewitching Circus Experience
Friday, October 23 | 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 | 8:30 p.m.
Ages 18+ only
Advance: $25 per person
At the door: $30 per person
Costumes are encouraged for both productions.
Tickets and information: phillycircus dot com/upcoming-shows-events/
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OF CIRCUS ARTS
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) is the region’s premier destination for circus training, performance, and innovation. A “Best of Philly” winner for children’s classes, PSCA serves students of all ages and skill levels through a robust curriculum that includes aerial silks, static trapeze, lyra, juggling, unicycling, tumbling, tightwire, and more.
Housed in a stunning converted church in West Mount Airy, PSCA offers year-round classes, workshops, parties, professional productions, and community events.
Each October, the school transforms its venue into a Halloween playground – complete with immersive décor, themed performances, and a community-wide celebration of creativity, courage, and fun.
To learn more or enroll in a class, visit phillycircus dot com or follow @phillycircus on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and exclusive content from this year’s Haunted Circus.
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