Steamboat Springs — The circus is coming to downtown Steamboat Springs next week, but this is no typical act with elephants and clowns. Instead, local artists will fill the streets and shops exhibiting their talents and giving people a hands-on and up-close look at everything from short films to fine art; from culinary offerings to hanging upside down from sheets of silk.

In fact, Steamboat’s own aerialist artists will be the centerpiece for the Steamboat All Arts Festival — themed “The Creative Circus” — which will take place Aug. 18 to 21 throughout downtown.

“I have to say I was very surprised, excited, honored, and yes, a bit nervous all at the same time,” said Heidi Miller, an aerial teacher with Steamboat Pilates, Yoga & Fitness.

She and some of her students, along with guests from the Front Range, will be setting up their aerial act downtown where they’ll perform aerial ballet a dozen feet in the air, by twisting silk around their bodies to support them.

“I have never been involved with anything like this (festival) before,” Miller said. “I’m very excited for my students to get a chance to show off some of their skills to the public. They work so hard, and I feel they deserve some time showing the world how amazing they are.”

Miller’s former teacher Rebekah Leach will join her from the Denver area and teach a workshop for those who think they’d never be able to do it.

“People say ’Ohh, I can’t do a pull-up, it’s gonna be too hard for me.’ Yes, it’s a hard workout, but we teach it in a way that makes it acceptable to anyone who wants to do it,” said Leach from her Aerial Works studio in Castle Rock.

Aerial workshops will be held at Excel Gymnastics on Saturday, Aug. 20. See published schedule for registration.

Steamboat Springs Arts Council special events coordinator Beth Liggitt gives her “artist leaders” plenty of leeway to set up their stations around the city so that they find the best way to bring their art form to the public.

“At each station, there’ll be a map guiding festival-goers to additional stations,” Liggitt said. “They’ll be on the streets in front of businesses or at the park … there’ll be visual art, chalk paintings on the sidewalk, musicians playing.”

Liggitt said “lterary artists” or writers will also be doing activities.

“They might do giveaways, book trades, ‘guess that quote’ kind of activity and possibly local author trivia,” Liggitt explained.

This year’s festival is adding an interesting film component to its schedule on Friday night at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Short films from high school filmmakers around the country and especially Colorado will be shown.  

“I don’t think people will believe how good these high school films are,” said Steve Moos, director of the Steamboat Springs Student Film Festival, which is held in May every year. “Some of them are heartbreaking in what they want to express. And the quality of the cinematography, and the variety is incredible. I forgot I was watching film by high school kids.”

Moos said in one hour, viewers will see 15 films that he picked from the festival in May.

“It’s the best of the best,” said the former video teacher and coach. “The whole thing is incredible.”

And that’s just how all the artists see this year’s All Arts Festival.

“I think it’s fantastic. Things like this get people very excited and being in a small town makes it all approachable,” said Leach. “Everyone deserves accessibility to art, and I’m so excited to see Steamboat do that.”

Ryan J. Fleming, who is overseeing all the music stations for the festival, agrees.

“Performers that will be playing music at the stations are locals … each with their own style, originality,” said Fleming, who plays guitar and often stars in local variety shows. “When you are an artist with a unique medium, it is difficult to find a venue to showcase it.”

And that’s why Fleming and other artists encourage everyone to come out for the festival.

“At the core of all of us is a wild child trying to escape,” said Devon Barker, photographer and station organizer. “Whether that escape is painting, dance, flow art, or as in my case, photography; it is a shame to try to suppress the urge to create.

“We live in a town full of athletes, artists, philosophers and innovators,” Barker added. “What better way to bring all of these together to showcase?”

While most events are free to the public, there are a few events that require registration and payment like the popular Creative Mixology at the Art Depot.

To find out what you may be interested in, see the accompanying published schedule or visit steamboatarts.org and click on your interest.