Adrenaline-pumping music filled Midway Stage 2 on opening day of the 2025 Great Geauga County Fair in Burton as families took in the sights and sounds of the fair’s newest adventure show amid the backdrop of a giant pirate ship.
Adrenaline-pumping music filled Midway Stage 2 on opening day of the 2025 Great Geauga County Fair in Burton as families took in the sights and sounds of the fair’s newest adventure show amid the backdrop of a giant pirate ship.
“Ahoy, are you ready for the show?” said emcee Andres Murcia, welcoming those in attendance. “It’s an experience you will not forget.”
The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean Ariel High Wire Thrill Show delighted audiences with performances each day of the fair, which ran Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
“We strive to offer something new each fair year,” said Keith Chapman, fair board vice-president and entertainment chairman. “It’s a family-friendly show with a focus on action, adventure and pirate antics. I find it great to see such an array of talented acts and provide fairgoers with that. The pure enjoyment we can offer is worth it all.”
The show featured nonstop high-paced action featuring mermaids, fights over a treasure map, sword fights, a rope slide, lighting and smoke effects, as well as other aerial stunts on the high wire suspended 20 feet above their giant pirate ship.
Pirates jumped and slid their way onto the huge skull and crossbones wheel of death, fighting and performing stunts while walking, running and balancing on the rotating wheel west of the ship.
The audience applauded from the stands while those watching from atop the surrounding grassy areas enjoyed the fair’s popular milk shake of the day.
Victoria Murcia and her husband, Walter Murcia, as well as their extended family — all from south Florida — tour around the United States and other countries presenting the pirate show, including at larger fairs such as the New York State Fair in Syracuse, North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh and Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.
“We always are happy to perform at new locations,” Victoria said. “We really pride ourselves and try really hard to make our show appealing and enjoyable for all ages. We have imagination for the kids mixed in with thrill acts, such as the high wire and skull and crossbones wheel of death for our older kids. We hope our audience leaves our show happy and inspired to have every-day pirate adventures. Mostly, that they had fun and enjoyed the performance.”
Ron Thompson, whose daughters participate in their 4-H club, The Pygmy Connection, every year at the fair, said his kids love the old Americana style and feel to Geauga County’s fair.
The Thompson family members and friends trickled into the stands to take a break and catch the first performance together.
Sarah Anne Thompson, 14, said the show was very creative and she enjoyed how the performers interacted with the audience.
“It was really cool,” Lillianna Thompson, 9, added.
Even Ron was impressed with the acrobatics, in particular, the chairs and performers balancing over the top of them.
Bob Elko, of Middlefield, said he looks forward to attending the fair every year to support the community.
“The new pirate show was well done for the family-friendly entertainment,” Elko said.
The pirate show’s next stop at the North Alabama State Fair in Muscle Shoals Sept. 8-14.
