This weekend was Manteca’s Christmas at the Promenade (previously Christmas in the Park). The event was held at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley and was filled with vendors of all varieties. I made the rain-laden drive from Modesto so I could finally try Vegan Circus!

Vegan Circus is a 100% organic, vegan, and non-GMO food truck offering cruelty-free carnival-style food. Revisit nostalgic favorites like funnel cake, nachos, corndogs, burgers, and more, while knowing 15% of the proceeds from your purchase go toward rescues that liberate animals from captivity. Vegan Circus says “We believe that animals in captivity, such as in circuses and zoos, need to be relocated to sanctuaries and deserve to live out their lives being treated with dignity and respect.” I am definitely on board with that, and love when we can support a vegan business and animal-related cause at the same time!

I ordered a Big Top Bacon Burger, Amazing Corn Dog, Perfect Pretzel, Fantasy Funnel Cake, a tub of cotton candy, and both the Sweet and Savory varieties of Popcorn. I wanted to try it all, but with the rain and drive, I selected a few items to take home and made a plan to visit in the future to tackle the remaining menu.

I think my favorite was the Amazing Corn Dog. Amazing is an understatement, and I would travel in any weather to devour one again. The batter was thick and fluffy, with notes of sweetness, salt, and the traditional polenta-like texture of cornmeal. I loved the mustard drizzle paired with the dog, but on its own is perfection. My other main was the Big Top Bacon Burger. The Big Top Burger is a delicious combination of textures and flavors. A hearty vegan patty is topped with onion, lettuce, tomato, dairy-free cheese, and crispy vegan bacon, then smothered with plant-based mayo and barbecue sauce, all layered in a pretzel bun that is topped with a spicy pickle! Both savory menu items were served with tortilla corn chips that are covered in Vegan Circus’ signature “Magic Dust”. The dust is smoky and spicy with a light hint of sweet that I think might be a sweet chili powder, and overall the flavor reminds me of Doritos.

I was most excited to try the Fantasy Funnel Cake, as I do not think I have had a funnel cake since going vegan 17+ years ago. It’s a fried puffed cake batter that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, then topped with a flurry of powdered sugar and served hot! It was tasty and definitely reminiscent of the carnival pastimes of my childhood. Both the Sweet and Savory popcorn are tasty, but the sweet was surprisingly my favorite. Could it be because it’s coated in a PINK lotus dust? Yes, of course. The savory was coated in their “Magic Dust” and is a nice alternative to the kettle-like popcorn.

I simply cannot wait for the Vegan Circus to pop up again locally, and encourage you to follow them on Instagram and visit their website to see their schedule and find out where they are heading next! Vegan Circus is also available for catering and events, so be sure to reach out to them regarding your next celebration! Not local? Don’t worry! Vegan Cirucs’ FROZEN Amazing Corn Dogs are now available for purchase and shipping at Vegan-Circus.com in both 5 and 10-packs!

I am so thrilled about the overall concept of Vegan Circus, and their food is just as incredible as their mission. Did you have an opportunity to try them this weekend, or are you adding their next pop-up event to your calendar?

Vegan-Circus.com

Vegan Circus- Instagram

Location: 280 Lifestyle St, Manteca, CA 95337