Step right up! The circus has entertained crowds for more than 250 years, with clowns, acrobats and daring trapeze acts. These riddles cover everything under the big top and the surprising history behind it.
Each riddle has a different answer, so you will learn about Philip Astley, Joseph Grimaldi, the leotard and the Roman racetrack that gave the circus its name.
Easy Circus Riddles for Kids
- I have a red nose and giant shoes, and my job is to make you laugh. Who am I? 👉 A clown
- I am the giant striped tent where the circus show happens. What am I? 👉 The big top
- I wear a top hat and announce every act in the show. Who am I? 👉 The ringmaster
- I walk across a thin rope high above the crowd. Who am I? 👉 A tightrope walker
- I swing and fly through the air from bar to bar. Who am I? 👉 A trapeze artist
- I keep many balls flying through the air at once. Who am I? 👉 A juggler
- I am a bike with only one wheel. What am I? 👉 A unicycle
- I am a pair of long wooden poles that make a performer look very tall. What am I? 👉 Stilts
- I am a tiny car, and a surprising number of clowns climb out of me. What am I? 👉 A clown car
- I am a fluffy pink treat made of spun sugar. What am I? 👉 Cotton candy
- A clown twists long balloons into me. What am I? 👉 Balloon animals
- I am the circle where the performers do their acts. What am I? 👉 The ring
- I am shot out of a giant tube and land in a net. Who am I? 👉 A human cannonball
- I am the white and colorful makeup on a clown’s face. What am I? 👉 Greasepaint
- I flip, tumble and balance on other performers’ shoulders. Who am I? 👉 An acrobat
Circus History Riddles
These riddles are based on real circus history. The note after each answer explains it.
- In 1768 in London, I started the first modern circus. Who am I? 👉 Philip Astley
- A standard circus ring is about this wide, which suits horses galloping in a circle. How wide? 👉 About 13 meters
- I am a famous circus from Canada, founded in 1984, known for acrobats instead of animals. What am I? 👉 Cirque du Soleil
- I was a famous English clown in the early 1800s, and clowns are still nicknamed “Joeys” after me. Who am I? 👉 Joseph Grimaldi
- I am the word for a fear of clowns. What am I? 👉 Coulrophobia
- A French acrobat invented the flying trapeze, and this tight outfit is named after him. What is it? 👉 The leotard
- The word “circus” comes from this huge ancient Roman racetrack. What was it? 👉 The Circus Maximus
Funny Circus Riddles
- Why did the clown go to the doctor? 👉 He was feeling a bit funny
- Why was the clown so sad? 👉 He broke his funny bone
Circus Brain Teasers
- Twelve clowns climb out of a car, three at a time. How many trips does it take? 👉 4
- A juggler has 5 balls, drops 2 and picks up 1. How many balls is she juggling now? 👉 4
- A circus tent has 8 rows with 25 seats in each. How many seats are there? 👉 200
- The ringmaster says the show starts 90 minutes after 2 p.m. What time does it start? 👉 3:30 p.m.
Want more riddles? Browse our blog for more collections, and if you spot a mistake in any answer, let us know on our Contact page.