Ultimate Thrills Circus at Canada’s Wonderland

I remember going to Canada’s Wonderland as a kid just for its shows. I loved everything from the cover tunes sung by enthusiastic, talented teens to the big-name bands that played there over the years. And now we’ve introduced our own kids to the entertainment that reaches beyond thrill rides and funnel cakes, starting with the Ultimate Thrills Circus.

Now, these kids are not strangers to the circus arts — they’ve seen huge circus productions from Toronto to Orlando. So we wondered if a smaller-scale, 30-minute circus act would impress.

It did.

Miss Q and The K Man watched in wonder as the show kicked off with a jaw-dropping incline motorcycle high-wire act, literally right on top of us:

The aerial silks performance was beautiful:

And there was a contortionist who did archery — with her feet! Watch this:

The biggest WOW of all was the “Cyclone.” It’s the only act of its kind in the world, with a chopper motorbike circling a narrow platform — that’s been hoisted 40 feet in the air — while two aerialists balance on and dangle from an attached swing. It’s so crazy! But I don’t want to be a total spoiler, so you’ll have to go see it (and the other acts I didn’t mention) for yourself…

Ultimate Thrills Circus tips

• Arrive 30 minutes early to get the best seats — bring treats to kill time
• You will be completely covered so if you need some shade or a place to escape the rain, this is perfect!
• The front two rows of the centre section are reserved for those in wheelchairs
• Slightly off of centre, the front row is off limits because one act in particular dismounts there
• Sit in the second row either side of centre for a completely unobstructed view — just be prepared to look WAY up for the high-wire acts (it’s a neat experience but those with bad necks may find this uncomfortable)
• If you want to see everything from left to right and front to back without twisting your body or craning your neck, sit centre-stage but closer to the back

Ultimate Thrills Circus dates and times

Canada’s Wonderland presents the Ultimate Thrills Circus until July 26, 2017 — free with your park admission. You can see the show every day of the week at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. On Saturdays and holidays, there’s also a 1 p.m. show that’s added. Be sure to double-check the showtimes posted just outside the International Showplace.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided park tickets and compensation for this post. We had an AMAZING day at Wonderland and I could have written about the fun we had on the rides or at the waterpark — but this is such a great show, so I wanted to tell you more about it.