Vidbel’s Olde Tyme Circus will perform two shows at the Crossroads School grounds on Oct. 14.
By: Stacey Gorski
Acrobats will glide through the air, clowns will bring a smile to your face and motorcycle stunt men will perform a grand finale. The best part is, you will not have to go far from home.
Vidbel’s Olde Tyme Circus is performing two shows in South Brunswick at the Crossroads School grounds on Oct. 14. The first show is at 2 p.m. and the second follows at 4:15 p.m.
The show is sponsored by the South Brunswick Lions Club and includes clowns, acrobats, aerial acts, small animal acts, specialty acts and an aerial motorcycle finale.
"Vidbels Circus is a family run business," said Lewis Schwartz, the circus chairman for the Lions Club. "The founders, Joyce and Al Vidbel, are still alive. They’re originally from New York, and they used to perform with Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus.
"Now the circus is done by the next generation. They (Mr. and Mrs. Vidbel) now have their kids, and I think their grandkids involved," said Mr. Schwartz.
The circus designs its performances for families, and a percentage of the proceeds always goes to the hosting organization for charitable causes. The circus keeps the rest of the proceeds from ticket sales and then any money made on concessions.
The earlier the public buys the tickets, the higher the amount of money the Lions Club will make on the event. The percentage the club keeps is higher on advanced sales than on the regular sales.
"The Lions Club will use the proceeds to assist the visually impaired and those with hearing problems. Also, the money will go toward community betterment and rescue squads. Also, South Brunswick High School scholarships," said Mr. Schwartz.
At South Brunswick High School’s graduation, the Lions presented seven scholarships to seniors. The awards are each $500 and are based on a complete review of the students’ performance, with weight given to community service, need and academic performance.
The cost for advance tickets is $8 for adults and children and $10 on the day of the show. Children under 3 are free.
Advanced tickets are available at the Dayton Express Diner on Georges Road in Dayton, Franklin Park Pharmacy on Route 27, Monmouth Mobile Home Park on Route 1, Pierre’s Deli & Bakery on Georges Road in Monmouth Junction and Stop Buy Food Store on Old English Center in Monmouth Junction.
Tickets will then cost $10 at the show.
This is the Lions Club’s fifth year sponsoring the event, and Mr. Schwartz says the biggest concern is always the safety of the performers and audience.
In particular, the event needs approval and advice from the health, fire, ambulance and police departments in handling the logistics of refreshments sales, parking and crowd control.
"We get tremendous cooperation from the community: the Board of Education lets us use the school field, the school system, the town departments, I can’t say enough about the help we get. I am afraid to list them because I might leave someone out."
Mr. Schwartz has much experience in hosting the event since he first saw it in South Plainfield a number of years ago. Besides organizing the South Brunswick event for the past five years, Mr. Schwartz and the Lions Club also have helped other organizations host the circus.
"I have seen it (the show) in Jamesburg, too. It was sponsored by the civic association this summer, and we helped them and the Milltown Lions, too, to set up the same event."
"I have seen it a lot, but I still enjoy it," Mr. Schwartz said.

