Willow Chandler doesn't need a giant trapeze, dancing elephants, or a bevy of clowns crammed into a car to entice circus lovers to her event.
A unicycle, some hoola hoops and a license to let loose is what keeps people coming back to her monthly circus night.
"People just come and play with the toys," said Chandler, an avid performer and business owner. "It's not structured, people just drop in and teach each other skills."
The idea for a circus night in Nanaimo started a couple years ago as a way to have fun and stay fit. The notoriety of the event spread throughout the Island and it now attracts performers from Victoria to Courtenay.
"It's all ages that come out," Chandler said. "I get lots of parents bringing their kids or people wanting to learn how to juggle."
Chandler's next event kicks off on Nov. 6 at Georgia Avenue School gym. To add a little flavour, she's decided to invite musicians that need a place to jam.
Poi, a form of juggling with balls on ropes swung in various circular patterns, are always a popular attraction along with extreme hoola hooping, Chandler said.
"It's not just your regular hooping," she said, adding participants often get several hoops spinning at a time.
The circus night runs the first Monday of each month and is by donation only. No amount is too small or too big, Chandler said.
"It's so nice to see smiles on the faces of 70-year-old women and seven-year-old children when they're doing the same thing," Chandler said. "It's just fun. It really keeps me going."
For information on the monthly circus night call Chandler at 250-754-1022 or e-mail [email protected]