Double fun in Everett with a big truck circus, big screen movie

EVERETT — Instead of one almost-last fling of summer, make it a double.

On Friday, Up Up Up, a touring crane circus in a big truck, not a big tent, will perform in downtown Everett at 6 p.m. Later, a big blow-up screen by the Everett Marina will put on the last picture show of the summer’s Sail-In Cinema — “Encanto,” the one that will have you singing about Bruno.

Up Up Up, an ensemble of aerialists, musicians, acrobats, clowns and illusionists, is on a month-long tour in Washington and Oregon.

The 24-foot-long flatbed Isuzu truck serves as the stage with a baby grand piano and a 30-foot hand cranked crane does rigging for the aerial acts. The circus entertains at small farms, immigrant communities, dinner parties, nursing homes and for fundraisers, such as Thursday’s show at the South Whidbey Community Center in Langley.

The circus drew about 300 spectators in Everett last summer to the vacant lot at 1814 Hewitt Ave. The show will be at the same place, but with different twists.

“We have a bunch of new acts. I’m eight months pregnant, so I won’t be twirling around,” said Up Up Up co-founder Sadye Osterloh, of Bellingham.

She did the “world’s largest wedgie” aerial spin in previous years. Another performer hooks onto the rig by his hair to do feats.

“This year the show’s theme has more of a Vegas-y, disco, sequin-y vibe to it,” she said. “We have a synthesizer and more fun tunes we will be playing.”

Jason Webley, an Everett singer-songwriter and accordion troubadour, will take the stage for a few songs. Webley started a traveling water circus, the Flotsam River Circus, on a 32-foot wooden boat with a troupe of musicians, circus performers and puppeteers.

Four of the Up Up Up performers were part of his circus, which did a circuit in June and July in California.

“We did a tour of the Sacramento River into the Delta and then finishing up in San Francisco Bay, with shows in Oakland and San Francisco,” he said.

The Up Up Up show is for all ages. The cost of admission is a donation, pass-the-hat style. There are no concessions.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Then head to Boxcar Park for Sail-in Cinema for the 8:25 p.m. showing of “Encanto” on a 40-foot screen.

This is the last movie of the summer series sponsored by the Port of Everett and Waterfront Place. Sail in to watch aboard your boat or walk in by land.

Show up an hour before the movie to get a photo op with the Madrigal girl from Enchanting Events and play yard games. Admission is free and so is popcorn. Food is available to purchase.

Kick back under the stars until it’s time to get up and dance to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.