This year's “Saturday Morning Cartoons” theme brings youth performers, aerial acts and family fun to the stage this May.
REV freshman Savannah Morris leads a youth movement, while Redlands, Citrus Valley and Beaumont athletes post standout performances ahead of the CIF Southern Section prelims.
The University of Redlands softball team brings a 35-4 record and a 25-game winning streak into this weekend’s SCIAC tournament at home.
This year's “Saturday Morning Cartoons” theme brings youth performers, aerial acts and family fun to the stage this May.
The Great Y Circus is a longtime Redlands tradition, and this year’s performance adds a new layer of nostalgia.
Now in its 84th season, the 2026 show, Saturday Morning Cartoons, draws inspiration from the colorful, fast-paced world of classic animated favorites, blending familiar themes with a high-energy circus performance.
Audiences can expect a lively mix of music spanning decades, with songs recognizable from shows including Beetlejuice, Curious George, The Jetsons, Pokémon, The Flintstones, The Powerpuff Girls, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, among others.
The production leans into the found memories of Saturday mornings, creating a family-friendly experience designed to keep both kids and adults engaged from start to finish.
Visually, the show is bright and imaginative, with acts ranging from beginner-level performances by young children to advanced aerial routines.
This year, an advanced aerial act known as “Shoot Thru Ladder” will open the show. Circus Director Emilie Watanabe describes it as two giant ladders that spin on a central axis, with a performer on each end.
“It’s just something you have to see,” Watanabe said.
More than 300 performers and volunteers take part, bringing energy, creativity and connection to a production that feels both reminiscent and fresh.
What sets the Great Y Circus apart is its rarity. The YMCA of the East Valley is home to the only YMCA youth circus program in the United States, a distinction that has helped make it a cornerstone of the local community.
Participants, some as young as 3 years old, train in acrobatics, tumbling and aerial skills, building confidence and teamwork along the way.
The program brings together youth from across Redlands, Highland and San Bernardino, supported by a network of coaches, volunteers and families.
The circus traces its origins back to 1929, when Roy Coble, a former performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, brought his passion for acrobatics to the local YMCA.
What began as a way to keep young people active quickly evolved into a full-scale production showcasing strength, coordination and creativity. Over the decades, the Great Y Circus has become a multigenerational tradition, with families returning year after year—both on stage and in the audience.
Beyond the spectacle, the Great Y Circus plays a role in supporting the YMCA’s broader mission. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the circus program and help sustain youth development opportunities throughout the organization.
Performances of Saturday Morning Cartoons are taking place throughout May at the Redlands Family YMCA, 500 E. Citrus Ave.
Concessions will be available for purchase during intermission, including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, soda, water and a variety of candy.
Tickets are $24 per person and are available for purchase at the YMCA front desk only. Lap children are admitted free.
For more information, call 909-798-9622 or visit ymcaeastvalley.org/great-y-circus/
Showtimes include:
Friday, 7 p.m. - May 1, 8, 15
Saturday, 5 p.m. - May 2, 9, 16
Sunday, 3 p.m. - May 3, 10, 17
This article is sponsored by the YMCA of the East Valley. Learn more about our sponsors at communityforwardredlands.com/reachredlands.
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