CIRCUS BELLA

What CIRCUS BELLA does

Circus Bella is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization operating a portfolio of live circus entertainment experiences. Founded in 2008 by David Hunt and Abigail Munn to revive the spirit of the Pickle Family Circus, the company produces three core programs: (1) the Starlight winter spectacular in a heated European-style big top tent at The Crossing at East Cut in downtown San Francisco, featuring international circus acts and a live All-Star Band; (2) Circus in the Parks, a free summer outdoor series across Bay Area parks; and (3) Weekly Juggle, free Saturday juggling lessons in Union Square launched in January 2026. Across these formats the company has performed 220+ shows in 40 locations reaching 200,000+ people since inception. The company has 8 full-time employees and engages a contracted roster of circus artists and musicians during peak seasons.

The business model is hybrid and consistent with nonprofit arts organizations: revenue derives from ticket sales for the winter show, corporate/private event packages (walkaround performers starting at $1,600, Big Top venue rentals starting at $3,500, full show buyouts up to $20,000), branded merchandise ($22-$55 apparel and accessories), and a substantial fundraising base including individual donors across six tiers (from $99 'Roustabouts' to $10,000+ 'Big Top Benefactors') and institutional grants from SF Grants for the Arts, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, and more recently the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie and SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via VBOTickets ticketing and corporate event booking, with marketing centered on website content, email newsletter (Mailchimp), social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), and community partnerships with parks departments, arts festivals, and venues such as Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, TJPA Salesforce Park, and Artown Reno.

There is no proprietary technology underlying the core product; the offering is live performing arts. The competitive position rests on brand recognition within the Bay Area circus community, the Pickle Family Circus legacy and connection to Circus Center (the SF training institution), deep nonprofit and municipal funder relationships, and a diversified revenue base. Operations are regional with recent geographic expansion into Southern California (Laguna Beach) and Nevada (Reno). The organization is governed by a 12-member board of directors and led by Co-founder/Executive Director Abigail Munn.

Name

CIRCUS BELLA

Legal name

Circus Bella

Website

https://circusbella.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circus Bella is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus company that produces live one-ring circus performances including a winter Big Top spectacular, free summer park shows, weekly juggling lessons, and corporate/private events, serving Bay Area families and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment / Circus Arts

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Live circus entertainment
• Circus performances
• Community arts programming
• Corporate event entertainment
• Circus merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from Big Top winter show ticket sales. General admission and preferred seating available, with group discounts for parties of 15+. Children under 2 free, children 3-12 receive $5 discount.
2. Corporate/Private Events: Bespoke event entertainment, venue rentals of the Big Top tent, and show buyouts for corporate or private functions. Packages range from walkaround performers starting at $1,600 to full show buyouts up to $20,000.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, totes, and accessories at various price points ($22-$55).
4. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by individual donations at various tiers (Roustabouts $99 and below, Acrobats $100-$499, Lion Tamers $500-$999, High Flyers $1,000-$4,999, Ring Masters $5,000-$9,999, Big Top Benefactors $10,000+). Also receives institutional funding from San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Walter and Elise Haas Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council.
5. Free Community Programming: Circus in the Parks provides free performances with suggested $25 donations. Weekly Juggle free Saturday juggling lessons in Union Square, funded by grants from The Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie, SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, Union Square Alliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Circus Bella is a nonprofit one-ring circus company that produces and performs live circus entertainment. Its core offerings include a ticketed winter Big Top Spectacular, free outdoor summer performances in Bay Area parks, free weekly juggling lessons, custom circus entertainment and venue rental for corporate and private events, and an online store selling branded apparel and accessories.

Product overview

Circus Bella is a non-profit one-ring circus company offering a portfolio of live entertainment experiences centered around classical circus arts with a modern sensibility. The core product portfolio includes: (1) the Big Top Show / Starlight - the company's flagship winter holiday spectacular in a custom big top tent featuring international acts and a live All-Star Band; (2) Circus in the Parks - free summer outdoor performances across Bay Area parks; and (3) Weekly Juggle - free community juggling lessons. Additional revenue streams include Bespoke Events - custom circus entertainment for private/corporate occasions, Big Top Venue Rental - renting the company's traveling tent for events, and Show Buyout packages. The company also operates a merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories, including the Carlo Collection sub-brand of athletic wear.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Starlight (Big Top Winter Circus Spectacular) Ticketed winter holiday circus spectacular featuring international circus acts, local performers, and the Circus Bella All-Star live band in a heated European-style big top tent at The Crossing at East Cut in downtown San Francisco; aimed at families, holiday audiences, and group outings.
• Circus in the Parks Free summer series of outdoor circus performances staged in parks and public spaces throughout the Bay Area, featuring an outdoor ring, live band, and the full circus company; open to the general public with no tickets required.
• Weekly Juggle Free weekly Saturday juggling lessons open to all skill levels, held in Union Square, San Francisco, with beginner-friendly gear provided; aimed at community members and visitors seeking casual participation in circus arts.
• Bespoke Circus Events for Corporate and Private Functions Custom circus entertainment packages for corporate and private events including walkaround/ambient performers, live music, aerial dancers, and emcees; walkaround packages start at $1,600 with full custom experiences priced higher based on requirements.
• Big Top Venue Rental Rental of Circus Bella's custom European-style big top tent for events; includes 3,000 sq ft of heated event space, capacity for 350 seated / 500 standing guests, 16-foot round stage, and full sound and lighting; starting at $3,500 with add-ons available for bar, catering, live band, and circus entertainment.
• Private Show Buyout Private buyout of a full 90-minute Circus Bella circus spectacular for up to 350 guests; includes performer mingling, circus snacks, full bar, custom marquis, and optional circus workshops; packages start at $20,000.
• Circus Bella Merchandise Store Online store selling branded apparel and accessories including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tote bags, and visors for adults, youth, and toddlers, priced from $22 to $55.

Quantifiable outcome

• 220+ shows performed, 200,000+ audience members reached since 2008
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• San Francisco Recreation and ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity department partnering for Union Square juggling jam program and park event collaborations.
• Union Square AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness improvement district partnering on Union Square juggling program and community events.
• Yerba Buena Gardens FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival presenting partner hosting Circus in the Parks performances at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.
• Circus CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco circus training center whose performers train and perform with Circus Bella. Listed as community partner.
• Artown RenominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReno arts festival presenting partner hosting Circus in the Parks at Reno Public Market.
• TJPA Salesforce ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSalesforce Park amphitheater hosting Circus in the Parks performances in San Francisco.
• Salesian Boys & Girls ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Beach youth organization hosting Circus in the Parks performances at their facility.
• American Circus AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization co-founded by Abigail Munn. Founding member and board participant working on circus industry advocacy.
• American Circus AllianceminorOthersCircus industry advocacy group founded by Abigail Munn to advance circus arts and improve working conditions for circus artists.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Circus Vargas: US-based traditional big top touring family circus that competes for family entertainment dollars with a comparable tented European-style format, though as a larger commercial operator.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global commercial circus leader whose tented and resident productions define the modern circus category; broad incumbent benchmark for circus operations, ticketing, and touring economics.
• Big Apple Circus: Iconic New York-based one-ring nonprofit circus that pioneered the intimate classical tented format Circus Bella operates; Dominique Jando (Circus Bella board member) was previously its Associate Artistic Director.

Emerging players

• Make-A-Circus: Bay Area nonprofit that produces free circus performances in parks, with deep historical connections to the Pickle Family Circus legacy that also inspired Circus Bella — directly overlapping free outdoor programming model.
• Moisture Festival: Seattle-based nonprofit variety arts festival featuring circus, burlesque, and comedy; comparable nonprofit live-performance model that Abigail Munn has performed with, and similar community-funded structure.
• Circus Center: San Francisco circus training school co-founded by Circus Bella board secretary Wendy Parkman; functions both as talent pipeline and complementary community programming, with shared performer base.

Direct peers

• Bindlestiff Family Cirkus: San Francisco-based nonprofit traditional circus that performs free park shows and ticketed events, directly overlapping with Circus Bella's free Circus in the Parks series and Bay Area audience.
• New Pickle Circus: Bay Area circus founded by descendants of the legendary Pickle Family Circus (which inspired Circus Bella); performs similar intimate one-ring shows and shares the SF circus community that produces talent for both organizations.
• Zoppé Italian Family Circus: Family-run one-ring traditional circus that performs in an intimate European-style tent; directly comparable in format, scale, and one-ring classical approach to Circus Bella's Starlight production.

Regional players

• Lone Star Circus: Texas-based nonprofit circus that produces traditional one-ring shows, regional in geography but directly comparable in format and nonprofit community-based model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/circusbella
• Instagraminstagram.com/circusbella
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circus-bella-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIRCUS BELLA