CIRCO BIZARRO: Where Sedona's Cosmic Clowns and Fire Dancers Weave a Spell-Binding Halloween Experience

Some nights, the veil doesn't just thin—it tears open completely. CIRCO BIZARRO transformed humankind center into a realm where aerial artists became gods, fire dancers channeled ancient mythology, and the entire room pulsed as one beating heart beneath strobing lights and all-vinyl beats.

Host Chase Hartshorn set the tone early, declaring himself a "trans knight" who was "once a circus prince." Moving through the crowd as a self-described "cosmic clown," Hartshorn held space with vulnerability and wit, at one point pausing mid-introduction to acknowledge "experiencing some inner things" before asking his friend, "if I was this funny, how would I be happier?" It was quintessentially Sedona—raw, real, and radiating intention.

What Makes Circus the Ultimate Container for Transformation?

"Circus is one of the most amazing things," Hartshorn told the crowd, "because what is circus, especially an umbrella, color, change. It holds us all, all of us here, actually, this whole diversity." The statement proved prophetic as the night unfolded through distinct chapters of performance art.

Malaya Muse opened with aerial work that earned her the title "Sedona Sneak," her act billed as preparation "to get hypnotized." Stevie Wolf followed with a luminescent LED hoop performance that prompted Hartshorn to reflect: "You ever see something or meet someone, and you see something deeper in yourself? Well, I think that I don't speak just for myself when I say Stevie Wolf illuminated something within me."

The evening's centerpiece arrived with The Norns—Emerald, Alina Zavala, and Stevie Wolf embodying the three Norse goddesses of fate. Hartshorn's poetic introduction set the stage: "Heed, now listen to what is said. We have circus and some bread, future, present, and the past. Meet the rest of the cast. Look north and shake the chill. Stand together this night, Underhill. As the veil becomes thin, it seems height time to begin."

How Did La Llorona Haunt the Halloween Night?

The most emotionally charged moment came when Alina Zavala stepped into the archetype of La Llorona, the weeping woman of Mexican folklore. "Beware her rage and heartbreak," Hartshorn warned, "for such things are not only strong emotions inspired by jealousy, they can cost one their immortal soul."

As traditional Mexican music filled the space, Zavala danced the eternal mourning of a spirit "bound to an eternity." The performance carried weight beyond spectacle—it was ritual, transformation, and cultural storytelling woven into one act. The crowd's silence spoke volumes before erupting into sustained applause.

Watch the full performance to experience the way fire, fabric, and folklore merged into pure catharsis.

What Happens When DJs Become Shamans?

Between performances, the music itself became ceremony. DJ Jace opened with 34 minutes of floor-shaking beats before Thomason took over, introduced as "the mad genius clown mastermind behind the Circo Bizarro event and his diabolical all-vinyl DJ set."

Thomason's set stretched deep into the night, his vinyl selections creating a sonic landscape that ranged from hypnotic to euphoric. At one point, dealing with technical issues, he kept the crowd engaged with unfiltered commentary: "Hey, y'all having a good time? Wait a minute. My mic all f****d up and s**t." The rawness only deepened the intimacy.

Lady Merkabah closed the evening, her set carrying the room past midnight as Hartshorn made announcements about beverage service and errant vehicles—mundane details that somehow felt like part of the spell rather than breaking it.

Throughout the night, Hartshorn returned again and again to the invitation: "The stage is yours, folks. Feel free to get up close on this nice dance floor this evening... if you guys want to come up and join Thomason on the stage and fill out this club, I want to invite you onto this stage."

It was circus as communion, performance as participation, spectacle as mirror. As Hartshorn blessed the crowd in closing: "May you all be so magical that you cannot be manipulated, so powerful, not that you could ever be intimidated, and be blessed that you're never bothered."

The full CIRCO BIZARRO experience lives on in replay form, available to stream now. Whether you seek the aerial grace of Stevie Wolf, the mythic power of La Llorona, or simply want to lose yourself in hours of vinyl-spun magic, the recording captures what happens when Sedona's consciousness community decides to throw a proper Halloween party—one where the circus truly does hold us all.

▶ Watch the replay on humankind →