Welcome to the Crispy Family Carnival, a modern-day vaudeville sideshow! We are an authentic troupe of sideshow performers who are dedicated to preserving those traditional acts that were kicked out of the American circus during the era of political correctness. Our lighthearted approach to the macabre has made audiences across the nation gasp with horror and squeal with delight.
At the helm of our bizarre family is Mr. Crispy, a sword-swallowing modern fakir who graduated from The Coney Island Sideshow School. With his mastery of pain, physics, and human biology, he shocks the crowd and holds multiple world records and accolades. Of all the Torture Kings, Crispy is one “class-act” that you’re bound to remember!
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The Crispy Family Carnival has delighted audiences in many high-profile locations, including theaters such as The Boulder Theatre, The Fox Theatre, The Ogden Theatre, The LIDA Project, The Bug Theatre, The Nightingale Theater, and Cain’s Ballroom. We have also performed at schools and universities such as Youngstown University (Ohio), Tulsa University (Oklahoma), Colorado State University, and Mizel Jewish Day School. Festivals such as Fiddler’s Green (Lollapalooza), The Denver Parade of Lights, Woolaroc KidsFest, FreeTulsa, Tulsa’s Freakers Ball, Salt Lake City’s First Night Gala, and Denver County Fair have also featured our performances. We have even appeared at conventions such as Mr. Scary’s Tatoo Expo, The Sideshow Gathering, and The Atlantic City Convention Center, as well as events like The Other Side Art Gallery, Indiego Music Center, VH1 Corporate Party, Gentry’s Farmers Market, Tail of Fear Scream Park, and Movie Premier for The Devil’s Carnival. Our show has also made its way to tourist attractions such as The Pearl Street Mall, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Branson, MO, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not Grand Prairie, TX.
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We are proud to have been featured on ABC’s Good Morning Utah, The CBS Evening News, Radio 1190 KVCU Boulder, 103.5 The Fox Denver, “The Lewis & Floorwax Show,” Canadian Television’s “Whale of a Tale” plus “Weird Wheels,” The Health Channel’s “You Swallowed What,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Dodge Ram ‘Amazing’ “ commercial, and the Dr. Demento radio show.
The Crispy Family Carnival has received numerous accolades for our performances, including the 2004 Circus Historical Society's "Candlelight Award," the 2005 World Record for Mass Sword Swallow with The Sword Swallowers Association International, the 2005 World Record for Fire Eating in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the 2009 & 2010 World Record for Mass Blockhead in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and the 2011 World Record for Mass 10-in-1 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. We have also been featured in multiple articles in The Rocky Mountain News, The Tulsa World, The Urban Tulsa, as well as articles and mentions in Denver’s Westword and YSU’s Jambar.
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At the Crispy Family Carnival, we offer a range of options to suit any occasion - from weddings and corporate events to monster truck rallies and garden parties. You name it, we'll bring the weird!