Witches Take to the Air as Philadelphia School of Circus Arts Brings Back Haunted Circus to 100+ Year Old Mt. Airy Church
Witches Take to the Air as Philadelphia School of Circus Arts Brings Back Haunted Circus to 100+ Year Old Mt. Airy Church
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) will bring back its annual Haunted Circus on October 23 and 24, 2026, turning its home inside a historic West Mt. Airy church more than 100 years old into a world of aerialists, acrobats, mysterious characters, circus acts and Halloween surprises.
This year’s Haunted Circus takes inspiration from witches, magic, covens and the supernatural, and offers two distinct experiences: a family-friendly show and an adults-only production. Performances take place at Circus Campus and PSCA, 6452 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19119.
“Theatricality and storytelling have always been at the heart of what we do,” said Kitsie O’Neill, executive director of Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. “Circus and witchiness just seem to belong together. There’s already something magical about flying through the air, balancing in seemingly impossible ways and doing things that don’t seem quite humanly possible. Haunted Circus lets us lean into that magic, make it a little mysterious, a little mischievous and just a bit wicked.”
The weekend begins after dark on Friday, October 23, when COVEN holds the first of two adults-only performances. The family-friendly SPELLBOUND takes the stage Saturday afternoon, followed by a second performance of COVEN on Saturday night.
SPELLBOUND: A Circus Spectacle
Saturday, October 24, at 5 p.m. | Family friendly
SPELLBOUND is a playful Halloween adventure created for families. The show features PSCA’s youth and teen Performance Prep students, adult students and staff, who take to the air and stage with circus acts, mysterious characters and spooky surprises.
“Kids love Halloween, but not every kid wants to be terrified,” O’Neill said. “With SPELLBOUND, we wanted to capture that feeling of Halloween when you’re a kid: dressing up, staying out after dark, believing for a little while that magic might actually be real. There are thrills and chills, but the goal is for kids to leave excited, not hiding under the covers.”
Costumes are encouraged for audience members of all ages.
Tickets:
- Advance: $15 adults; $10 youth ages 2 to 17
- At the door: $20 adults; $15 youth
COVEN: A Bewitching Circus Experience
Friday, October 23, at 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 24, at 8:30 p.m. | Ages 18 and older
COVEN is a darker, playful production for audiences 18 and older, with mature themes, horror and humor. It brings together PSCA performers for an evening of aerial artistry, daring feats, mysterious rituals and playful performances.
“For COVEN, we can be a little more daring,” O’Neill said. “It can be darker, stranger, sexier and more surprising. We have this incredible building, performers flying overhead and an audience that is willing to follow us somewhere unexpected. For two nights, we get to turn the whole place into our own little coven.”
Guests are encouraged to come dressed to bewitch, whether as a witch, wanderer, curious mortal or something entirely their own.
Tickets:
- Advance: $25 per person
- At the door: $30 per person
A Philadelphia Halloween Tradition
Haunted Circus has become an annual opportunity for PSCA students, faculty and performers to combine circus technique with theatrical storytelling and create original work for Halloween.
The setting adds to the experience. PSCA is housed in a converted church in West Mt. Airy, where aerial performers can soar above the audience inside the former sanctuary.
“Circus already asks you to believe that impossible things can happen,” O’Neill said. “Someone climbs a piece of fabric twenty feet into the air, someone balances where they shouldn’t possibly be able to balance, someone flies. Add Halloween to that, and suddenly anything feels possible. That’s what I love about this show.”
