The Gym Dandies Children’s Circus Past Performances

Yearly Events

  • Wells Christmas Parade, Wells ME
  • Maine Celtics Halftime Show, Portland Expo, Portland Maine
  • Manchester St. Patricks Parade, Manchester NH
  • Gym Dandies Annual community Performance, Scarborough ME
  • Kennebunk May day Festival, Kennebunk ME
  • Portland Pride Parade, Portland ME
  • Yarmouth Calm Festival Parade, Yarmouth Maine

Historical Highlights

  • Performing since 1981.
  • Recognized as an exemplary program for children by the Maine State Arts Task Force 1984.
  • Nominated for the National Education Association Excellence in Education Award in 1991.
  • Since1981, more than 4000 Scarborough school students have been members of the group.
  • The Gym Dandies is the largest continuously operating children’s circus in the United States.
  • Winner of The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness “Contest for Communities Award” 2000.
  • Featured on ZOOM, the nationally televised PBS children’s program, in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
  • Eighty Gym Dandies represented the State of Maine in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2000.
  • Selected as the featured performance in the Montreal, Quebec Cycling Festival May 2002.  This is the world’s largest cycling event.
  • One Hundred Gym Dandies represented the State of Maine in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2004.
  • Sixty Gym Dandies performed atop six-foot unicycles in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2005 in NYC, the largest and tallest unicycle ensemble to perform in this event.
  • The Gym Dandies once again represented the State of Maine in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.on July 4, 2006.
  • The Gym Dandies Children’s Circus represented the Scarborough community and the State of Maine in the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. on April 12, 2008.
  • Winner of the Specialty Unit competition, West Virginia Strawberry Festival Parade, April 2009.
  • Winner of “The Peoples Choice Award”, Maine Lobster Festival Parade, August 2010.
  • Represented the State of Maine in the Philadelphia, PA Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2011
  • Represented the State of Maine in the 100th Anniversary of the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, April 2012
  • Represented the State of Maine in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC
  • The first unicycle unit and only non-regional participant in the 2014 Columbus Day Parade in New York City
  • Hopkinton Massachusetts Bicentennial Parade, September 2nd, 2015
  • The Gym Dandies once again represented the Scarborough community and the State of Maine in the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 2016.
  • Represented the state of Maine at the Big E, New Englands Regional Agricultural Fair, September 14th 2019
  • Once again represented the State of Maine in Philadelphia, PA, for the Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2018.
  • Represented the state of Maine at the Big E, New Englands Regional Agricultural Fair, September 13th 2016
  • The Gym Dandies were the first non-marching-band school group to perform for guests of Universal Studios Orlando, FL, June 24 & 25, 2022.
  • The Gym Dandies again represented the Scarborough community and the State of Maine in the Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2022
  • The Gym Dandies were invited back to perform at Universal Studios Florida June 17th and 18th, 2025.
  • The Gym Dandies were invited but the State of Maine Parade Committee to be featured performers for Maine Day at the Big E- New Englands Regional Agricultural Fair, September 13th 2025