Vargas History

It was not until the mid-1960’s that Vargas began laying the foundation that would lead not only to his recognition but also to his domination of the world of circus.
Vargas’ mission to rejuvenate the Big Top was undoubtedly influenced by his childhood fascination with the circus. He was a frequent spectator at circuses that every year visited his home town of Livermore, California, where his Portuguese-descended family maintained a farm. It was always the Big Top itself that intrigued Vargas the most, capturing his heart and imagination.
“To me, the Big Top was quite a sight, sitting splendidly on some vast flat field that only the day before was totally vacant and lifeless,” he often said. With the sawdust, spangles and billowing canvas, Circus Vargas is a time machine that transports its audience back to the glamour and heart-pounding excitement of the authentic old-time circus.And we’ve never looked back!

Tabares History

The “FLYING TABARES” trapeze act was created over 20 years ago in Argentina by fourth generation circus performers and brothers Nelson and Alberto.
When Clifford Vargas saw them perform to standing ovations in South America, he wasted no time in hiring them for his 20th anniversary edition of Circus Vargas. During their three extraordinarily crowd-pleasing years with Circus Vargas, Nelson Tabares met and married seventh generation circus performer Katya Arata, whose outstanding talent and beauty made her a vital part of the Flying Tabares.
During the following years, the Flying Tabares continued an outstandingly succesful career in places like Circus Circus Hotel and Casinos in Las Vegas and Reno, with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus all over the United States, Circus Victor Hugo Cardinali in Portugal, and The Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco. In 2004, they were awarded the "GOLDEN CLOWN" (the circus equivalent of the Oscar) for their amazing flying act!
In the 2006 all-new Circus Vargas, the Flying Tabares continue to thrill the audience with their breathtaking flying act, featuring their newest and brightest high-flying star, Josue, the son of Alberto and Patricia Tabares.
In 2005, the Tabares Family proudly became United States citizens, and founded their production company, Tabares Entertainment, Inc., which now proudly presents CIRCUS VARGAS, America’s Favorite Big Top Circus!

CARRYING ON THE DREAM

After the death of Clifford Vargas in 1989, Roland Kaiser and Joseph Muscarello, both longtime friends of Vargas and management executives with the show, joined forces and took the reins of America’s Favorite Big Top Circus, until they retired in 2003.When the Tabares Family got word of the closing of Circus Vargas, the company that had jump-started their career, they were truly saddened. In 2005 the Tabares Family created their production company and in 2006 Tabares Entertainment, Inc. became the proud owners of Circus Vargas!
Due to the vision and dedication of all the people of Circus Vargas, the words of Clifford E. Vargas live on: “…every generation of Americans should experience, first-hand, the very special thrills, the never-duplicated excitement, of the real circus under the Big Top.

THE CIRCUS VARGAS BIG TOP TENT

For those who fondly recall the rich tradition of going to the circus under a Big Top, and for those who have never experienced the magic, 2007 is the year to enjoy the thrill of a real Big Top circus.
The “Star” of Circus Vargas was hand-made in Milan, Italy, and is the most state-of-the-art Big Top tent in use today. The theater-style tent seats 1,500 people comfortably.. The tent consists of 90,000 square feet of fabric and is supported by 500 individually placed stakes and over four miles of rope and cable weighing over 17 tons. The entire setup represents an outlay of a cool million dollars!
Each set-up day, at the crack of dawn, 30 men start the seven-hour process of raising the Big Top, and each tear-down night, by the light of the moon, the same 30 men roll the tent up and pack it carefully to travel to the next town, where the process begins anew.