Here in Sarasota “The King of the High Wire” Nik Wallenda is a household name. He is the friend we
see in Nathan Benderson Park practicing his high wire or performing at the local circus with his family. Nik Wallenda is also the holder of 11Guiness World Records. He has crossed the Grand Canyon, a volcano, and Niagara Falls on a tight rope, as well as numerous buildings and obstacles throughout the world. Nik Wallenda is one of the reasons Sarasota is considered the home of the circus and the city will surely have his name on St. Armands circle in the Circus Hall of Fame in the future.

In March the United States shut down because of the Covid-19 virus. With that shutdown all theme
parks, concerts, live sports, and entertainment venues throughout the world were completely missing. As the country starts to reopen entertainment is much needed to help people forget the two previous months. Nik Wallenda listened and now has another billing in response to helping bring much needed entertainment become available. Live in Sarasota is “the world’s first drive-in stunt show.”

This Covid-19 friendly show will feature Nik and his high-wire partner and wife Erendira Wallenda along with a host of other world class daredevil entertainers at Nathan Benderson Park. “We wanted to provide quality family entertainment during what has been a rough time for our Nation and the World” said Nik Wallenda, who is also self-producing the show for the first time in his career. “I wanted my hometown of Sarasota to experience a show like nothing that’s ever been seen before,” said Nik, while adding that he will not even be the feature act.

The shows will also have the FMX freestyle jumpers, who have been featured on the X Games, BMX riders, motorcycles in a steel globe, a wheel of steel, and an actual human cannonball. This is a show to be dreamed of under the big top and will take place in a drive-in like atmosphere that will encourage social distancing. You can watch in the comfort of your car or in lawn chairs within the immediate vicinity of your car, just like a drive-in theater.

Attendees will also get $1 off their ticket price for every can of non-perishable food brought to the event (a maximum of $5 off) per car. The shows will be”

Thursday June 11th        6:30pm
Friday June 12th            6:30pm
Saturday June 13th         2:30pm and 6:30pm
Sunday June 14th           1:00pm and 5:00pm
Thursday June 18th        6:30pm
Friday June 19th            6:30pm
Saturday June 20th         2:30pm and 6:30pm
Sunday June 21th           1:00pm and 5:00pm

General admission is as low as $20 per person with children under 2 years of age free. There is also VIP parking available. For tickets go to daredevilrally.com. This is an event not to be missed. Let’s have Sarasota show Nik and his daredevil family and friends that this is a show that needs to travel the entire Nation, as much as we would love to keep him here for ourselves. 

The Thrill Freak 

David “Thrills” is an avid enthusiast of thrill parks and entertainment activities in the Tampa Bay Area. Be sure to follow me on twitter @TheThrillfreak for live tweets, Snapchat @thethrillfreak for that special exciting memory, and  instagram @thrillfreak just or email me at tampathrillme@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns. Pictures, unless otherwise credited, are the property of Nik Wallenda.