Johnny Rockett and Galaxy Girl Inducted into The Big E’s Circus Walk of Fame

On Monday, Sept. 21, at 2pm, Johnny Rockett and Tina Winn were inducted into the Circus Walk of Fame at The Big E. The ceremony took place outside of The Big Top circus tent, located beside the iconic Giant Slide at the Fair. Attendees included Eastern States Exposition (ESE) President and CEO Gene Cassidy; co-founder of Mellowship Entertainment John Juliano; ESE Director of Marketing and co-founder of Mellowship Entertainment Anne-Alise Pietruska; ringmaster Ian Garden, Jr.; the cast of Circus Spectacular, sponsored by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar; and ESE full-time and seasonal staff.

Since 1992, the walk has commemorated some of the most distinguished entertainers and impresarios that have performed at The Big E, including the performative Petrov Family(2025), the late helicopter trapeze artist David Merrifield (2024), current ringmaster Ian Garden, Jr. (2022) and many more.

Johnny Rockett, the “Clown Prince of Comedy,” was born into a seventh-generation circus family as John Daly. His heritage traces back to Ireland and generations of performers who helped build a legacy under The Big Top in America. Raised in the circus, he has spent virtually his entire life entertaining audiences and working shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greatest performers in the industry.

Known as Johnny Rockett worldwide, he is instantly recognizable by his uniquely long black mohawk, a signature look that has become as iconic as his performances. That unmistakable presence is matched only by his unbelievable physical ability, which is a rare combination of strength, agility and precision.

He has appeared with infamous productions, including Garden Bros. Circus, The Big E’s Circus Spectacular, Shrine Circuses and at the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Big Apple Circus and Wonderland in Sarasota, Fla., alongside Nikolas Wallenda, an American acrobat, aerialist and daredevil.

Following in the footsteps of generations of great Daly family comedians, he did not simply inherit the family tradition—he reinvented it. Blending classic physical comedy, elite stunt work, audience interaction and a larger-than-life personality, his style has been described as part Buster Keaton-Evel Knievel, part Jim Carrey-Travis Pastrana, uniting old-school circus showmanship with a modern audience. Nowadays, he performers as Johnny Rockett’s Strolling Boombox, bringing an upbeat tempo everywhere he goes at The Big E.

“I look at the other names here—the Hannefords, the Gardens and more—and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I will now be among them,” said Rockett. “I can honestly say there is no place like The Big E. This place is the Fair of fairs, and I have played them all, so trust me when I say that this is the best of the best. In my opinion, the reason is because of the team behind it. They are unmatched, and they operate not just as a team but as a family.”

Tina Winn, also known as Galaxy Girl, is a seventh-generation entertainer and world-renowned aerial daredevil. She has spent her life carrying on a remarkable family legacy while creating an extraordinary career of her own. With time, bravery and much practice, she pushed herself and her performance to unprecedented heights and became one of the highest female aerial daredevils in the world, captivating audiences with breathtaking displays more than 127 feet in the air on an aerial pole, without nets, harnesses or safety devices.

Winn’s spine-tingling performances have taken her around the world and established her as a fearless pioneer in the world of aerial entertainment. One of the greatest highlights of her career was performing at The Big E, where she impressed thousands of people with her jaw-dropping stunts. Standing high above the crowd, she delivered the kind of unforgettable, heart-stopping entertainment that has defined her repertoire.

Throughout her remarkable career, she has performed for some of the world’s most recognized venues, organizations and events, including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Epcot Center, Canada’s Wonderland, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Shrine Circuses, NASCAR events and other corporate events. She also shared the stage with legendary entertainers, including opening for KISS and performing at Madison Square Garden for Liza Minnelli.

Her career is defined by courage, extraordinary skill, dedication and an unwavering dedication to audiences everywhere. From a seventh-generation family tradition to becoming a world-renowned daredevil in her own right, Winn has continually pushed boundaries and reached new heights, both literally and figuratively.

“I say all the time that this place is truly like Disneyland,” Winn said while gesturing to the lively fairgrounds around her. “I have played every corner of this Fair, including nine times in The Coliseum. Now that I am behind the scenes, I see the offices more often. I see how hard the team works at Eastern States Exposition. If you are a performer, this is the most incredible place you can present, and I was reminded of that every single time I climbed high into the air for an act and looked down to see people having the time of their lives. Thank you.”

Many that attended the ceremony stayed to see Circus Spectacular, sponsored by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and led by third-generation showman Ian Garden, Jr. Three daily performances at 1, 4 & 7pm promise must-see performances that make you unexpect everything you knew about physics. Marvel at Zero Gravity Art’s X-Wall Acrobats that defy physics, stars from Got Talent worldwide and España’s SkyBike, with performers hanging precariously from platforms higher than the heavens.

It’s all coming to you at The Big E, now through Oct. 4. Ringside tickets can be purchased at TheBigE.com. General admission seating on the bleachers is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Main image courtesy of Circus Walk of Fame

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