WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP -- It's the last stop for the big top in Luzerne County.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is performing for the last time after 150 years.
The four-day show kicked off Thursday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
After almost 150 years, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is closing the curtains and these are the final performances in Luzerne County. Death-defying tricks like contortions and juggling will be a thing of the past.
"It's a sad situation," said Cindy Miller of Harding. "Happy things seem to be pulling out of our area and it's a sad thing; the kids enjoy it."
Ivan Vargas was born and raised by trapeze artists on the Ringling Brothers tour. His parents were both with the circus. He began performing when he was 14 years old and is sad to see the show go.
"Just the crowds that come and say we missed the show the past few years but we wanted to see the show one last time is overwhelming," said Vargas.
The "Greatest Show on Earth" says after a drop in ticket sales, it made it impossible for the show to go on, but performers wanted to go out with a bang.
"'Circus Extreme' is the greatest show on earth and even though this is the final tour, we are not slowing down and that's what we want to do. We want to show it's the greatest show on earth," said Vargas.
"We are combining the classic circus acts with new contemporary modern acts so you have circus things we know and love but we also have stuff you've never seen before like parkour," said circus performer Matthew Lish.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus runs through Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Luzerne County.
On Friday, April 7, the show starts at 7 p.m. and the All Access Pre-show begins at 6 p.m.
There are three shows on Saturday, April 8. They being at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. The All Access Pre-show begins an hour before for each show.
There are two shows on Sunday, April 8. They begin at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The All Access Pre-show begins an hour before for each show.
The final show will be at the end of May in New York.
