NOV 21–22 • ALAMEDA • VAU DE VIRE SOCIETY • GOOFERMAN • CIRCUS • KLOWNS • BANDS • DJs • ART CARS • MIDWAY GAMES • BURLESQUE • SIDESHOW • 21+ w ID

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Bohemian Carnival
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Nov 21–22 2026 • Alameda • 21+ w ID

The Soiled Dove & Vau de Vire present the Only & One Bohemian Carnival — Est 2006 — Indie Circus & Music Festival 20th Anniversary Weekender

November 21 to 22, 2026

Tortona Big Top • Radium Runway • Alameda

Save the Big Top Benefit

Get tickets See the lineup

Two days • one big top

The weekend lowdown

  1. Bohemian Carnival 20th Anniversary Weekender badge under a starry night sky above the big top: Sat Nov 21, The Main Event

    Nov 21

    Saturday

    Doors
    6p
    Show
    9p–2a
    Get Saturday tickets

    The Main Event

    Vau de Vire Society and Gooferman host the unusually usual bombastic circus and music madness, including Brunch Life, Jollichimp, the Smile High art car, and way more TBA

  2. Bohemian Carnival 20th Anniversary Weekender badge under a blue daytime sky above the big top: Sun Nov 22, Day Party

    Nov 22

    Sunday

    Hours
    1pm–6pm
    Get Sunday tickets

    Day Party

    Join the Bohemian Carnival cast & crew for an afternoon of vibrations, libations, and performances in the temple we call the Tortona Big Top, featuring Syd Gris & friends

Tortona Big Top at Radium Runway • Alameda • 21+ w ID • Per-day schedule coming soon

The meat & potatoes

Behold our heroes of entertainment mayhem

  • The Vau de Vire Society cast in costume on stage under red and purple lights as confetti falls

    Vau de Vire Society

    The acclaimed avant-cabaret collective delivering spectacular circus, aerial, acrobatic, and theatrical performances infused with beautiful chaos.

    Visit Vau de Vire Society (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Gooferman on stage in clown makeup under red and purple lights

    Gooferman

    The notorious electro-funk klown-fi band blending bombastic musical mixtures and circus-fueled stage shows with expert wanton abandonment.

    Visit Gooferman (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Syd Gris grinning in mirrored aviators with headphones around his neck, leaning over the decks in a domed DJ booth

    Syd Gris

    Licensed clinical psychologist by day, Opulent Temple founder and DJ by night, Syd Gris has opened for Tiesto, Moby, and Underworld, and the prescription is always the same: more bass, twice nightly.

    Visit Syd Gris (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Six Fou Fou Ha! clowns in white face paint, technicolor wigs, corsets and striped stockings posing with fans on a sunny city plaza

    Fou Fou Ha!

    Behold Fou Fou Ha!, cartoon couture clowns serving psychedelic vaudeville with Fosse precision and a Jim Henson sensibility. Expect technicolor wigs, towering heels and a sudden, irresistible urge to join in.

    Visit Fou Fou Ha! (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Brunch Life’s Micah Byrnes in a hat and a pink sling swimsuit, lounging at the helm of a yacht with the city skyline through the windows

    Brunch Life

    Micah Byrnes – aka DJ Brunch Life – started his music career at a young age as a yodeler in the Alps. Sadly he lost his voice in a lederhosen accident and was banned from his Bavarian village.

    Visit Brunch Life (opens their site in a new tab)

  • DJ Icon smiling at the decks in headphones, gold glitter makeup and a sequined top

    DJ Icon

    Powerhouse bass queen DJ Icon went from SF’s ’90s underground to Coachella, Ultra and MTV. Breaks, trap and Beatport top 10s, plus one standing order for every playa crowd: show me your bass face.

    Visit DJ Icon (opens their site in a new tab)

  • PRISCILLA laughing with one arm raised, in a sparkly sequined dress, aboard an art car built from silver baking molds, with a friend in a cap waving beside her

    PRISCILLA

    Raving since ’96, lately PRISCILLA’s been DJing for the Heavy Petting Zoo, and teaching playa newbies to mix. Her recipe is DnB, Latin house, breaks and electro swing, with one standing rule: come out and dance with her.

    Visit PRISCILLA (opens their site in a new tab)

  • TikTak mid-jump with arms flung wide and mouth open, in a yellow cartoon-print bucket hat, shirt, shorts and socks against a gray backdrop

    TikTak

    Cleveland-born, SF-based TikTak has been the minister of jungle and drum and bass since the early ’90s. From vinyl to CDJs, the sermon hasn’t changed: Bassedelic Rituals, Midnight Mass, and no one sits still.

    Visit TikTak (opens their site in a new tab)

  • A pole dancer in purple climbing the pole against a black background

    Flux Vertical Theatre

    Flux Vertical Theatre: Berkeley’s pole, aerial and dance studio, where gravity is merely a suggestion. Students build strength and confidence; performers turn spinning upside down into an art form.

    Visit Flux Vertical Theatre (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Jamie DeWolf in a black hat lying on a stairwell floor, smoking, as a woman in a red skirt steps over him

    Jamie DeWolf

    Perennial BC MC Jamie DeWolf is a filmmaker, slam champ, circus ringmaster, and self-described vaudevillain. HBO’s Def Poetry Jam alum with 35+ film awards, proving the profane and the profound make excellent roommates.

    Visit Jamie DeWolf (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Smile High, a silver jet-shaped art car with porthole windows and a crowd on its top deck, on the desert playa at dusk

    Smile High Art Car

    The community-powered mutant vehicle and mobile dance floor spreading music, movement, and joy across Black Rock City and beyond.

    Visit Smile High Art Car (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Shaina Violinista in a red dress and long red gloves holding a white electric violin and bow, seated at the wheel of a vintage open-top car

    Shaina Violinista

    Shaina Violinista is a virtuoso violinist, producer, composer, and one of the world’s few aerial violinists. Whether she’s glowing in LEDs or dangling midair, she hits every note, no solid ground required.

    Visit Shaina Violinista (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Kingfish in a straw hat and tux at the mic, surrounded by the Hubba Hubba Revue cast on the DNA Lounge stage

    Kingfish & Mini Hubba Hubba Revue

    Kingfish founded, produces and hosts SF’s World Famous Hubba Hubba Revue: 20 years of tease, comedy and go-go dancers at DNA Lounge. Award-winning MC, professional enabler of Monday night sexiness.

    Visit Kingfish & Mini Hubba Hubba Revue (opens their site in a new tab)

  • The Klown in white face paint, a top hat and a striped scarf, seated on a throne draped in a red-and-white flag, holding up a gold winged figurine in each hand Photo: Anne Staveley

    The Klown

    The Klown: Renaissance ape, circus special ops agent, musician, DJ, and Bohemian Carnival co-producer. Founder of all-klown bands Gooferman and Jollichimp, ringmaster of Circus Metropolus. Third place for life.

    Visit The Klown (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Heather Thiel singing at a vintage mic in a floral apron, arms flung wide, with the keyboard player behind her and a mixing bowl on the baking table

    Just Add Heather

    Just Add Heather, the world’s first live baking show, stars singer-pastry chef Heather Thiel and a live band whipping up music, comedy, hot dancers, and dessert. Cabaret, but make it edible.

    Visit Just Add Heather (opens their site in a new tab)

  • A sideshow performer throwing sparks from an angle grinder against a screaming shirtless partner

    Displayed Labors Sideshow

    Not for the faint of heart, Oakland’s Displayed Labors Sideshow duo pierces, nails and staples themselves for your viewing pleasure. Squeamish? Step out. Curious? Front row.

    Visit Displayed Labors Sideshow (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Four Circus Metropolus klowns in white face paint and hats, one in a pom-pom sombrero, crowding a selfie with a fist raised outside the AREA15 building at dusk

    Circus Metropolus

    Circus Metropolus: a Unified Theory of Entertainment, Heavy on Klowns. Born in 2005 from a defunded kovert klown program, it co-created Bohemian Carnival and Red Nose District. Honk if you’re nervous.

    Visit Circus Metropolus (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Prinz Xzist in a pink brocade suit, gold chains and aviators at the DJ decks in front of a spinning prize wheel

    Xzist

    Behold Prinz Xzist, SF cosmic contortionist, breakdancer, painter, and DJ Lil’ Bump, plus host of the Discordia Game Show. Spin the Wheel of Misfortune, inflate a balloon with your bum, find enlightenment.

    Visit Xzist (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Jollichimp’s clowns in full makeup under string lights, with a giant mallet and a rubber chicken

    Jollichimp

    A hyperflavored musical gumbo of bass, breaks, glitch, funk, and rock engineered by klowns to inspire various degrees of wiggle and wobble.

    Visit Jollichimp (opens their site in a new tab)

  • Orion Fredericks in a cat-print dress and straw cowboy hat under a black lace parasol, on a deck above the open playa

    Orion Fredericks

    Elemental artist Orion Fredericks has spent 25 years bending fire, water, glass, and steel to his will. Marvel at his o-so-curious live drawing amongst the big top galleries.

    Visit Orion Fredericks (opens their site in a new tab)

  • The Chuck It Wagon, a trailer painted with grinning cartoon monsters and bottles

    Wabi Sabi Carnivali

    Omar Farah’s gloriously imperfect midway for grown-ups, anchored by the Chuck It Wagon, where you pay to hurl stuff and leave lighter. Step right up; the prizes are therapy.

    Visit Wabi Sabi Carnivali (opens their site in a new tab)

Food & drink, midway games & more

Full lineup

WTF is Bohemian Carnival?

Bay Area immersive entertainment pioneers

Since 2006, Bohemian Carnival has been the Bay Area’s only-and-one indie circus and music festival supreme. For our 20th anniversary, we’re storming the Tortona Big Top in Alameda for two days of circus acts, bands, DJs, art cars, midway games, dancing, and irreverent hijinks galore.

Bring your friends, your nerve, and your ID, and plan on leaving your inhibitions at the door (you can pick them up on your way out).

The experience

Passes for your asses

Pick your poison(s)

  • Saturday

    Happy Hour + Show

    $69

    Doors 6p • Show 9p–2a

    • Pre-game at the big-top bar
    • Free appetizers
    • Complimentary cocktail
    • Bohemian Carnival ticket
    Let’s go – Happy Hour + Show

  • Saturday

    The Main Event

    $49

    Doors 8p • Show 9p–2a

    • Circus + music + dance party
    • Imbibing at the big-top bar
    • Midway shenanigans
    • Bohemian Carnival ticket
    Let’s go – The Main Event

  • Saturday

    Micro-Lounges

    $499

    Doors 8p • Show 9p–2a

    • The Main Event, and...
    • Includes up to 8 souls
    • Elevated viewing
    • Bottle service upon request
    Let’s go – Micro-Lounges

  • Sunday

    Day Party

    $39

    1pm–6pm

    • All-afternoon dance party
    • Circus+music performances
    • Imbibing at the big-top bar
    • Super-affordable eats
    Let’s go – Day Party

21+ w ID • Every guest, every day. Bring a real one.

Where the pandemonium pops

Tortona Big Top

Radium Runway
2151 Ferry Point
Alameda, CA
  • Drive

    Free onsite parking at the venue.

  • Ferry

    Ferry service to and from San Francisco and Oakland’s Jack London Square. Check sailing times before you go, especially the ride home.

  • Every day

    Both days take place within the Tortona Big Top complex.

Get directions Getting here, FAQ & policies

Schedule Lyft nowSchedule Uber now

Radium Runway • Alameda

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Born September 23, 2006

Twenty years of quasi-furious jumping

Take a sampled gander at two decades of circus and music lunacy, brought to you by resident hosts Vau de Vire Society and Gooferman and a glorious, ever-evolving cast of supreme beings of absurdity — thanks to all who’ve helped color this adventure!

Our story

  1. The first Bohemian Carnival flyer, September 23, 2006 at DNA Lounge: a post-LoveFest indie circus orgy, with a grinning chimp unzipping a banana (view larger)

    Sep 23, 2006

  2. Bohemian Carnival poster, February 17, 2007: ornamental wood-type title over a night photo (view larger)

    Feb 17, 2007

  3. Bohemian Carnival poster, April 21, 2007: red and black billing with the clown watermark (view larger)

    Apr 21, 2007

  4. Bohemian Carnival poster, May 19, 2007: condensed gothic type in red and black (view larger)

    May 19, 2007

  5. Bohemian Carnival poster, February 26, 2010: red sunburst behind the clown mark (view larger)

    Feb 26, 2010

  6. Bohemian Carnival 20th Anniversary Weekender poster, a Save the Big Top benefit, November 21–22, 2026, at the Tortona Big Top, Radium Runway, Alameda, with Vau de Vire Society, Gooferman and the full lineup (view larger)

    Nov 21–22, 2026

Absorb the evidence

Evidence, for the doubters

From the big top

Video: Mark Day

A dancer in fishnets under green light, flanked by drummers pounding trash-can drums (see the gallery) A crowd-surfer passed overhead as the front row cheers (see the gallery)

The full gallery

Running away never felt so good

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