A 35,000-gallon water stage is coming to Fair Oaks Mall starting Friday, giving Vienna-area families a chance to catch Cirque Italia's touring spectacle without leaving Fairfax County.

Water Circus Atlantis opens at 7:30 p.m. under a white-and-blue big top tent in the mall parking lot at 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax. The show features aerialists, acrobats, jugglers and dancers performing on and around a custom-designed water stage. Cirque Italia uses no animals; its international cast hails from Argentina, Brazil and Romania, among other countries.

The run is short. Seven performances span Friday through Monday, with three shows on Saturday and three on Sunday. The Friday opener and both Saturday afternoon shows are already more than 50% sold, according to the Cirque Italia ticketing site. Tickets range from $15 to $65, and one child gets in free with a paying adult using the promo code FREE. ADA seating is available by calling 941-704-8572.

Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre keeps rolling

Three miles up Trap Road, Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods has a packed schedule running through mid-August. All shows start at 10:30 a.m., with gates opening at 10 a.m. Tickets are $14 per person, according to Wolf Trap's website; children under 2 are free.

Here's what's ahead:

  • Friday, July 17 — Mega Ran, a former middle school teacher turned Grammy-nominated children's rapper whose music appears in video games like Mortal Kombat 11 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge.
  • Saturday, July 18 — Swing Makes You Sing!, a high-energy jazz ensemble teaching kids about blues, swing, and improvisation.
  • Thursday, July 24 — Semilla Cultural presents "Sofía's Forest Adventure," blending storytelling, dance, and live Bomba rhythms rooted in Puerto Rican tradition.
  • Friday–Saturday, July 25–26 — Barefoot Puppet Theatre's "New Squid on the Block," a wordless puppet show with an original score by Ned Haskins.
  • Thursday, July 31, through Saturday, August 2 — Maryland Youth Ballet performs "Sleeping Beauty."
  • Friday–Sunday, August 7–9 — River City Puppets' "The Wonders of Wiggly River."
  • Friday–Sunday, August 14–16 — GreatWorks Theatre presents "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!"

Wolf Trap offers a $2-per-ticket discount when buyers purchase tickets to three or more shows, and group discounts of 10% for parties of 10 or more.

Also nearby: Circus Vazquez in Tysons

Circus Vazquez, founded in Mexico City in 1969, is listed at Lerner Town Square at Tysons II (8025 Galleria Drive) starting Saturday, July 18, with performances running through Monday, August 31, according to third-party ticketing sites. Show times and dates have not been confirmed by Circus Vazquez directly; check circusvazquez.com before purchasing.

Upcoming calendar

  • Friday, July 17 — Cirque Italia Water Circus Atlantis opens, Fair Oaks Mall, 7:30 p.m. ($15–$65)
  • Friday, July 17 — Mega Ran, Wolf Trap Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, 10:30 a.m. ($14)
  • Saturday, July 18 — Swing Makes You Sing!, Wolf Trap Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, 10:30 a.m. ($14)
  • Saturday, July 18 — Circus Vazquez listed to open, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II
  • Thursday, July 24 — Semilla Cultural, Wolf Trap Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, 10:30 a.m. ($14)