Midnight Circus host an open-air show on the West Side of Chicago

In the morning, the creative team plans out the sets up for the check-in booth for the 1 o'clock show at Park No. 218.(Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

On the morning of the open-air show volunteers and acrobats set up the stage at Park No. 218. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

On the morning of the open-air show volunteers and acrobats set up the stage at Park No. 218. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

After setting the stage up, acrobats are seen practicing for their performances. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

The performers and the creative team hold hands and chants before they go on stage. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

The audience is sitting in the grass, waiting for the performance to begin while following the safety precaution by staying a social distance apart at Park No. 218. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

Jeff Jenkins(left), the Founder/Directors of Midnight Circus In the Parks wearing a blue and white suit, introduces his organization and the Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24th Ward) standing behind him, Michael Scott Jr.(right) (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24th Ward) greets and applauds the audience for their presence at the performance and announces Douglass Park's new name Park No. 218.(Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

The cast was showing the audience a preview of what to expect during the open-air show.(Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

The Chicago Boys in white/blue take a bow in front of the audience as circus artists engage with the crowd smiling and clapping.(Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

Kevin Beverley holds onto the ropes of the trapeze as he stands on the bar, preparing to perform his act.(Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

Regina Meirmanova performs aerial acrobatics with silk fabric to the song Youth by Daughter. (Photo taken by Sabrina Hart)

	By Sabrina Hart, Reporter, The Real Chi

Midnight Circus In the Parks (MCITP), a Chicago nonprofit, held two open-air shows at Park No. 218 formerly known as Douglass Park on Saturday, Oct. 10. Michael Scott Jr., the Alderman of the 24th ward, greeted the attendees and announced Douglass Park's new name before the show began. The yellow rope throughout the park kept citizens socially distant from one another and the performers. Attendees were required to pre-register online on the organization's website to reserve a spot the day before the event. Registration for the free tickets opened Oct. 5 at midnight and sold out the very next day. On the day of the circus, attendees sat on the grass as acrobats, clowns, gymnasts, and a violinist waved and smiled as they walked upon the stage. The acts lasted for at least 45 minutes.The first show started at 1 p.m. and lasted until 2pm. Then the second show started at 4p.m. and ended around 5 p.m.

The violinist fiddled a lively beat to set the tone of the show before the first act. The clowns entertained the audience by playing with a diabolo, creating sad and happy facial expressions and balancing a ladder on the tip of one of their noses. The acrobats formed figures of art with their bodies and danced as the DJ played upbeat songs. The gymnasts flipped and performed tricks with a long-beaded multicolor jump rope.According to the organization's website, MCITP offers "an intimate, exciting, world-class circus to the heart of every community it plays." The organization was born in 2007 and was founded on the belief that community involvement is the foundation to build long‐term success with positive effects that are long-lasting. 

It was MCITP's last performance of this year. Still, they announced on their Instagram page, “We are looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2021, in whatever form that may take. We are ready for whatever the world throws at us, because circus and the arts matter. And we’ll never stop believing it.”