Timothy Chapman
2/20/2023
A scary R-rated circus attraction horrified spectators this past weekend in Mercedes, Texas.
The circus called, Paranormal Cirque, was created five years ago by the company named Cirque Italia and has made its way to the Rio Grande Valley.
General Manager for Paranormal Cirque Ben Holland said it’s very common to have horror themed circuses in Italy, but there was not anything like it in the United States and realized there was a niche in the market.
“It’s all the things you think of when you normally think of a circus, it’s got the acrobats,the crazy stunt people. It’s got all those elements, It’s just got a different twist to it you know it’s got that paranormal theme, it’s like a circus for people who love their horror movies. They want it to be Halloween all year round stuff like that,” Holland said.
He said Paranormal Cirque has the best performers from all around the world such as the Ukraine, Africa, China, Ecuador, Mexico and Italy to name a few.
“We bring the best of the best from all around the world because we think that the people deserve the best show that we can offer so everyone works really, really hard to try to make that happen,” Holland said.
Before the show begins, performers go around walking amongst the crowd in scary makeup and costumes, scaring people similar to a haunted house style.
Performer for Paranormal Cirque Momi goes around carrying a fake chainsaw and said he loves his job.
“I like scaring people, yes, because in the Paranormal show we have to be scary, that’s why when the people are scared, I am happy. I think I do a good job,” Momi said.
He said his favorite part of being in Paranormal Cirque is taking people’s stressful minds away and entertaining them for a couple hours.
“I like seeing people happy, I like when people come here and go home without stress “People have to come here and see what Paranormal Cirque means, Paranormal is the best, number one,” Momi said.
For many of the performers working in the circus, it is all they’ve ever known according to General Manager Ben Holland. It is the reason why they are able to keep the same energy and enthusiasm every week city to city.
“This is what we do, it’s what you’re made to do. It’s what you’re born to do, it’s what you love to do. It’s more of a way of life than anything else, you have the energy because that’s who you are,” Holland said.
According to Holland Paranormal Cirque has already expanded to a second touring circus with Paranormal Cirque 2 and they are already planning on adding a Paranormal Cirque 3.
For more information on Paranormal Cirque you can visit their website at paranormalcirque.com
