by Lawrence Helman
“STARLIGHT” is performed in the round under a colorful Big Top Circus Tent for a limited engagement of 26 performances. The show opened Dec. 12, 2025, and runs through Jan. 4, 2026.
Located at 211 Beale St. – at Howard Street – at the Crossing at the East Cut, San Francisco’s newest gathering spot, the show runs 90 minutes plus a 15-minute intermission in our custom heated Big Top Tent. General admission seating is in two sections: Premium (first two rows, assigned seating) and General Admission. Tickets are $55 – $75.
From the moment you arrive, you are transported to a starlight-drenched world of magic and splendor. Circus Bella returns to the Big Top for a third year with “STARLIGHT: An All-New Winter Circus Spectacular.” With brand-new acts, sumptuous costumes and artists from across the USA, Circus Bella brings all the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy and modern look of 2025.
Performed in a 350-seat Big Top Circus Tent, the beauty of “STARLIGHT” is the intimacy and immediacy of the one-ring circus. A diverse cast of 13 perform thrilling feats of balance and strength, demonstrations of grace and poise, hilarity and authentic moments that bring us all together. This year’s edition features some of the best and brightest circus talent in the country. Original music is performed live by our beloved six-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band. New to the band this year is acclaimed violinist Christina Walton.
“STARLIGHT” is the perfect show for families and children of all ages, a joyous holiday event that will stay with you all season long and beyond! Now, more than ever, we all need more moments to sit down all together, to celebrate, reflect and LAUGH!
Performers of all races, genders and ethnicities are always a part of Circus Bella performances. This year, the African-Americans performing in “STARLIGHT” are Veronica Blair on aerial straps and Toni Cannon’s duo-hand balancing, and for the first time, we welcome Christina Walton on violin, joining the Circus Bella All-Star Band.
Christina Walton is an Oakland-based violinist and actor who performs extensively in theater and concert settings. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, she began studying the violin at the age of 10, participating in the county’s youth orchestra and intensive arts programming.
She became enchanted by the stage after attending a few touring musicals during her high school years and went on to study singing, dancing and acting at Brenau University in Georgia, later rounding out her acting skills studying classical and contemporary plays in the Master of Fine Arts program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
Onstage, she has appeared in immersive actor-musician productions such as “Wildfire” at Z Space and “Once” with 42nd Street Moon. Other performing credits include “Indecent” at Center Rep; “Matchbox Magic Flute,” “Paradise Square” and “Ain’t Too Proud” at Berkeley Rep; and “Nobody Loves You” at the American Conservatory Theater. She has also served as concertmaster and music librarian for the Oakland Civic Orchestra with occasional appearances as a soloist.
The Bay Area arts scene has provided Christina the opportunity to explore a wide variety of musical styles, including klezmer, Balkan music, Irish fiddle, jazz, blues and hip hop. She has performed and recorded with local artists such as jazz vocalist Faye Carol and pianist-M.C. Kev Choice, as well as groups such as Awesöme Orchestra and The Kombos Collective. With a background encompassing classical training, folk music and theatrical storytelling, Christina brings a versatile blend of precision and playfulness to Circus Bella’s All-Star Band.
Circus Bella was founded in 2008 by David Hunt and Abigail Munn, with the vision of bringing the spirit of the much beloved Pickle Family Circus back to San Francisco. The original program was its annual FREE Circus in the Parks series which has grown into a much beloved Bay Area annual tradition.
In 2017, Circus Bella participated in the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., where it presented “Bay City Rhapsody” to thousands of festival goers on the National Mall. In November 2018, Circus Bella offered its first winter showcase, “Kaleidoscope,” located in a big top circus tent on Treasure Island. And in August 2019 it toured this production to Colorado. In 2023 and 2024 the company remounted its holiday show at the Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco. Circus Bella is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a board of directors of 12 community members. It is proud to receive funding from San Francisco Grants for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts as well as other private family foundations. Since 2009, the organization has performed for more than 135,000 people across the Bay Area and beyond.
To learn more about Circus Bella, call 415-480-4239, email info@circusbella.org or visit circusbella.org. Purchase tickets at circusbella.vbotickets.com/events. Upcoming performances are:
Sunday, Dec. 28, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29, 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec 31., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW)
Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 3, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 4, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
