Hupstate Circus Festival Showcases Diverse Acts and International Talent

Get ready for an unforgettable Labor Day Weekend in Upstate New York as the Hupstate Circus Festival (Aug 30 – Sept 2, Ithaca, NY) unveils its exciting lineup, featuring 10 outstanding indoor shows and 5 thrilling outdoor performances.

Now in its fourth year, the festival has become a destination for performance lovers from all over the USA. Headlining this year’s program is the US premiere of Play Dead, the highly anticipated debut show from the renowned Montreal-based People Watching Collective. Offerings include a diverse program containing free and ticketed shows, indoor and outdoor performances, family-friendly, and late-night shows.

Over the past four years, Hupstate has garnered international acclaim for its extensive programming and wide draw, making it the only all-circus international performance festival in the US. The 2023 Festival saw attendance of over 4000, including over 800 participants from out of state representing 20 states and 5 countries. In 2024, Hupstate Circus received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, with the mission to elevate circus arts in the United States through high-impact and accessible festival and residency programs. Hupstate aims to continually bring visibility to how vibrant, diverse, and exciting the art form of the circus is.

Festival highlights include the first-ever swinging trapeze on Cherry St, free circus shows at the Press Bay Backlot, the interactive All Things Circus Zone for all ages, and a vibrant puppet and circus parade through downtown Ithaca. There will be contributions from circus artists from the USA, Ecuador, Colombia, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, France, Finland, and Canada. In addition, audiences will be able to see a show by world-famous juggler Jay Gilligan, watch the return of Ithacan Simone Stevens performing aerial rope after three years at circus university in Sweden, and witness a high-flying circus show from Montreal that takes place on top of a food truck. A fundraising cabaret in support of the festival will be held Sunday evening to support the ongoing efforts of the organization to elevate the circus art form.

Our venue partners, including Cherry Artspace, Hangar Theatre, Community School of Music and Arts, Downtown Ithaca Alliance, Press Bay Backlot, and the Allan H. Treman Marina Park, are committed to making the festival accessible to everyone. Most shows will feature American Sign Language interpretation, and all venues are ADA compliant.

The 2024 festival is brought to life by the dedicated Hupstate board of directors, including Daia Bromberg, Amy Cohen, Avi Pryntz-Nadworny, and Natasha Shatzkin, with invaluable support from Access Coordinator Polly Solomon.

This festival is proudly supported by the Park Foundation, Community Foundation, Tompkins County Tourism, NYS DanceForce, and the New York State Council on the Arts, whose contributions help us elevate the circus arts in the US.