Cirque Italia, a nationwide traveling circus, is currently developing over 13 acres of vacant land in Palmetto, just south of US-41 & US-19. They’re constructing facilities with flexible work areas, storage, a restaurant, and an outdoor entertainment venue.
Back in the 1980’s, this site was home to Fun City, which featured an outdoor go-kart racetrack and indoor video game arcade. Fun City was very similar to the Pirate’s Cove (archive) in Bradenton, except Fun City was in the middle of nowhere and lacked batting cages. I vaguely remember visiting Fun City for a friend’s birthday party in elementary school and racing go-karts there. I returned in 2013 and the building was gone, but the overgrown, graffiti covered race track was still being used as a skate park by local kids.
Cirque Italia operates five different circus groups throughout the United States, including Water Circus and Paranormal Cirque. The circus has talented artists swinging from ropes, flipping over trapezes, and zipping by on roller skates. The cirque is a cross between circus, theatre, and cabaret.
This development in Palmetto is Cirque Italia’s plan B after the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) rejected plans in 2022 to rezone the old Oneco Glass & Mirror land at 1623 53rd Ave E, Bradenton. Neighbors did not want the horror-themed circus shows performed there and were concerned about traffic. In a surprising move, the BOCC refused to allow a continuance so Cirque Italia could make changes to their proposal and voted swiftly to reject the rezoning request.
Cirque Italia is currently setting up Water Circus Gold in Palmetto. You may have seen the huge 220’ x 150’ circus tent alongside US-41, just south of the Bradenton Area Convention Center. The water circus features a custom designed water stage that holds 35,000 gallons of water, which performers dazzle over. The show runs from January 3-6, 2025, and tickets cost between $15-65 each.
Cirque Italia was started in 2012 by Manuel Rebecchi —the nephew of Moira Orfei, the world-renowned queen of the Italian circus. Mr. Rebecchi also owns and operates Nitro Extreme, a stunt show with cars and motorcycles; Classic Rescue, a car restoration company; Rival Graphix, a sign and vehicle wrapping business; and Avatar Pods, which appears to be futuristic mobile homes without wheels. All these businesses are run out of 2903 9th St W, Bradenton. You may know that location as the old Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting that was there for many years.
Have you been to a Cirque Italia show or to Fun City before it closed? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.
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