Is The Circus Coming To Enumclaw? It Depends On Who You Ask

ENUMCLAW, WA — While the event is still being advertised online, a Garden Bros Circus show supposedly scheduled for May 19 is not actually happening, according to officials with the Enumclaw Expo Center, where the event was expected to occur.

As far as circus organizers are concerned, however, the show must go on.

Jim Davis, executive director for Stellar Entertainment Group, Inc., which owns and produces Garden Bros Circus shows, told Patch on Thursday that his company's lawyers are looking into the situation, which Expo Center General Manager René Popke confirmed.

According to Davis, Stellar Entertainment sent the Expo Center a deposit check for $300 as required. However, Expo Center officials reportedly told Davis the check was received May 2, a day after the set deadline.

As a result, Popke said the Expo Center canceled its contract with the circus.

Based on the advice of Expo Center attorneys who are considering potential litigation, Popke told Patch she was unable to share any more information than that.

Davis, however, was a bit more forthcoming.

"We have a fully executed contract, as far as we're concerned," Davis said, noting his business stands to lose upward of $50,000 if the show is canceled. "I deal with arenas all over the country, and I've never seen anything this petty; I mean, it's sad because the check was only for $300 and it was only a day late. I can't control the postman."

Davis has tried to communicate with Expo Center officials, but said he's only received curt email responses indicating the contract was canceled. The Expo Center, Davis said, will not return his phone calls.

Regardless, Stellar Entertainment "won't go down without a fight," Davis said.

"Contractually, we have complied with every request that Enumclaw Expo Center has required. We have obtained permits for Garden Bros Circus to perform," Stellar Entertainment Group spokeswoman Kristina Salgado told Patch in an email. "After receiving a signed contract, we moved forward with our promotions and ticket sales.

"Recently, René Popke reached out to our booking agent to inform her that the show was being canceled, due to no signed contract. We provided her with a copy of the fully executed contract with both signatures," Salgado continued. "We are a family show; we just wanted to bring the circus to Enumclaw for families to enjoy."

Editor's Note: This post was originally shared as an event announcement on Enumclaw's Patch. After reader feedback, Patch contacted both the Enumclaw Expo Center and Garden Bros Circus organizers to get a better understanding of what's happening with the show.