Farmington PZC Says 'Yes' To Circus' Return Engagement

FARMINGTON, CT — The circus is, again, coming to town and, again, Farmington's top land-use board has approved it.

The Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 said "yes" to an event permit from Carlos Delagarza to operate his mobile Flip Circus at the Westfarms Mall.

The mall is located in both Farmington and West Hartford off New Britain Avenue (Route 71), but the circuses will take place within Farmington's borders, which is why Farmington PZC approval was sought and needed.

The circus shows will take place at the mall from July 12-23, with night showings at 7 p.m. on weekdays and three shows each on Saturday and Sunday.

The circus is a traveling event, with shows under the big top featuring all sorts of clowns, acrobats, and other performers. It doesn't have animals.

The circus also sells a lot of the beloved carnival/circus food items popular with many.

In actuality, the PZC didn't vote on a second permit but, rather, voted informally by consensus to allow Farmington Town Planner Shannon Rutherford, per her request, to simply extend the permit voted on a year ago to this year.

Rutherford said the permit application for 2024 was identical to the approved 2023 permit.

After consulting with the Farmington Police Department, Rutherford said there were no problems with the circus a year ago.

"There were no concerns, no issues, no calls, no nothing," she said of the 2023 circus shows.

This prompted her to ask the PZC if they just wanted to extend the permit a year, which it did without any reservations and under the same conditions as 2023.

It saved Delagarza,. who was present at the meeting, from having to give the same presentation to the PZC he did a year ago.

The conditions of approval ranged from compliance with local noise ordinances to maintaining sanitary conditions at the site.

"They fully intend to comply with the same conditions as last year," Rutherford said.

She did say attendance is expected to be higher this year because the date of the shows is more into the summer than a year ago.

In 2023, the circus events were in August and September, while this year's dates are all in July when area schoolchildren are on summer vacation.

That slight difference aside, Rutherford said the circus' 2024 plans don't require any additional PZC action.

"There doesn't seem to be any reason to make any adjustment at this point in time," Rutherford said.

For more information and to buy tickets to the Flip Circus, click on this link.

For the minutes of the June 10 Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

From Aug. 28, 2023: 'Circus Tent OK'd In Farmington, Show To Go On At Mall'