ABOUT US
Over 100
Years of
Family
Circus
Tradition
From Small Town Shows to the Largest Circus On Earth!
Over 100 Years
of Family Circus
Tradition
From Small Town Shows to the Largest Circus On Earth!
Free Kids Ticket
A Circus Built For Families Since Day One
Garden Bros Circus has been entertaining families for more than a century. Founded in the 1930s by Scottish immigrants William and Robertson Garden, it began as a small vaudeville act in Canada. Today, it stands as the Largest Circus on Earth, touring across the United States and bringing unforgettable live entertainment to cities of every size.
We’re proud of where we came from. And we’re just as proud of where we are now. Family is important to us, which is why we offer free kids tickets to coincide with an adult purchase.
Free Kids Ticket
A Circus Built For Families Since Day One
Garden Bros Circus has been entertaining families for more than a century. Founded in the 1930s by Scottish immigrants William and Robertson Garden, it began as a small vaudeville act in Canada. Today, it stands as the Largest Circus on Earth, touring across the United States and bringing unforgettable live entertainment to cities of every size.
We’re proud of where we came from. And we’re just as proud of where we are now. Family is important to us, which is why we offer free kids tickets to coincide with an adult purchase.
1916 to 1949
A Look Back to How It All Started
1916 to 1949 A Look Back to How It All Started In 1916, William and Robertson Garden settled in Canada. William pursued a career in vaudeville, forming the act Garden and Shaw with his wife, Jean. They later established the Canadian Vaudeville Exchange, which evolved into Garden Amusements Limited. In 1932, William was contracted to produce a circus at the Coliseum in Toronto. By 1949, his brother Robertson joined as a partner, and together they relocated to California. During its early years, the circus was North America’s sole full-time indoor circus.
From a Small Show to the Largest Circus on Earth
1950 – 2015 From a Small Show to the Largest Circus on Earth After William’s passing in the 1950s, his sons Bill, George, and Ian launched smaller circuses, eventually adopting the name Garden Bros Circus in 1959. They transitioned to indoor performances and introduced a circus tent in 1960. In 1967, Ian and Dick Garden took over, with Ian continuing the indoor Garden Bros tour throughout eastern Canada. In 1990, Ian passed the reins to his sons, Richard and Ian Jr., who carried on the tradition until around 2010. The Garden Bros Circus title remained dormant until Niles Garden revived it in March 2015.
1950 to 2015
2015 to 2021
Taking the Circus to the Next Level: The Vision of Niles Garden
2015 – 2021 Taking the Circus to the Next Level: The Vision of Niles Garden Since Niles Garden took over as producer, Garden Bros Nuclear Circus has evolved into a next-level entertainment experience. Under his direction, the show has expanded nationwide, introduced cutting-edge production elements, and featured a world-class lineup of performers. Niles brought a fresh creative vision and a focus on high-impact visuals, making the circus bigger, louder, and more immersive than ever before.
Today Purchase and Merger of Cole Bros
2021 – Today Purchase and Merger of Cole Bros Niles Garden purchases COLE BROS CIRCUS and merges with GARDEN BROS CIRCUS creating GARDEN BROS NUCLEAR CIRCUS the Largest Circus On Earth and the largest Circus merger since Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey.
2021 to Today
Today
What the Circus Looks Like Today
Today What the Circus Looks Like Today Today’s Garden Bros Nuclear Circus features over 60 performers from around the world. The show includes aerial artists, stunt drivers, dancers, clowns, and daredevils. The lighting and sound are concert-quality, and the Big Top is the largest of its kind in the world.
Popular Attractions
- Jr’s Big Adventure (virtual reality experience)
- The Human Cannonball
- Globe of Death
- The World’s Smallest Person
- Live music and special effects
Every show is 100 minutes long and built to keep families entertained the entire time.
1916 to 1949
A Look Back to How It All Started
1916 to 1949 A Look Back to How It All Started In 1916, William and Robertson Garden settled in Canada. William pursued a career in vaudeville, forming the act Garden and Shaw with his wife, Jean. They later established the Canadian Vaudeville Exchange, which evolved into Garden Amusements Limited. In 1932, William was contracted to produce a circus at the Coliseum in Toronto. By 1949, his brother Robertson joined as a partner, and together they relocated to California. During its early years, the circus was North America’s sole full-time indoor circus.
1950 to 2015
From a Small Show to the Largest Circus on Earth
1950 – 2015 From a Small Show to the Largest Circus on Earth After William’s passing in the 1950s, his sons Bill, George, and Ian launched smaller circuses, eventually adopting the name Garden Bros Circus in 1959. They transitioned to indoor performances and introduced a circus tent in 1960. In 1967, Ian and Dick Garden took over, with Ian continuing the indoor Garden Bros tour throughout eastern Canada. In 1990, Ian passed the reins to his sons, Richard and Ian Jr., who carried on the tradition until around 2010. The Garden Bros Circus title remained dormant until Niles Garden revived it in March 2015.
2015 to 2021
Taking the Circus to the Next Level: The Vision of Niles Garden
2015 – 2021 Taking the Circus to the Next Level: The Vision of Niles Garden Since Niles Garden took over as producer, Garden Bros Nuclear Circus has evolved into a next-level entertainment experience. Under his direction, the show has expanded nationwide, introduced cutting-edge production elements, and featured a world-class lineup of performers. Niles brought a fresh creative vision and a focus on high-impact visuals, making the circus bigger, louder, and more immersive than ever before.
2021 to Today
Today Purchase and Merger of Cole Bros
2021 – Today Purchase and Merger of Cole Bros Niles Garden purchases COLE BROS CIRCUS and merges with GARDEN BROS CIRCUS creating GARDEN BROS NUCLEAR CIRCUS the Largest Circus On Earth and the largest Circus merger since Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey.
Today
What the Circus Looks Like Today
Today What the Circus Looks Like Today Today’s Garden Bros Nuclear Circus features over 60 performers from around the world. The show includes aerial artists, stunt drivers, dancers, clowns, and daredevils. The lighting and sound are concert-quality, and the Big Top is the largest of its kind in the world.
Popular Attractions
- Jr’s Big Adventure (virtual reality experience)
- The Human Cannonball
- Globe of Death
- The World’s Smallest Person
- Live music and special effects
Every show is 100 minutes long and built to keep families entertained the entire time.
A Tradition
That’s
Still
Growing
We hear it all the time: “I came to this circus as a kid. Now I’m bringing my own kids.” That’s the kind of tradition we believe in.
We’ve always focused on making the circus affordable and family-friendly. Kids get in free with every adult ticket. Pre-show activities, games, and food turn every stop into a full day of fun.
We don’t just want to be the biggest circus. We want to be the best family circus in the country.
A Tradition
That’s
Still
Growing
We hear it all the time: “I came to this circus as a kid. Now I’m bringing my own kids.” That’s the kind of tradition we believe in.
We’ve always focused on making the circus affordable and family-friendly. Kids get in free with every adult ticket. Pre-show activities, games, and food turn every stop into a full day of fun.
We don’t just want to be the biggest circus. We want to be the best family circus in the country.