The lot between the Downtown Library and Jefferson Avenue covers 0.7 acres and holds 98 public parking spaces. It runs from Middlefield Road back to Pennsylvania Avenue. Most of the year it is just where library patrons park. Starting Friday, Nov. 6, a one-ring big top fills it, and until Nov. 29 the Zoppé Italian Family Circus performs on that asphalt. The City counts this as the circus's 19th year in Redwood City.
The lot is also in a planning process. This fall the City asked residents what Lot B should become, and the leading idea is affordable housing. So the tent goes up this month on ground whose long-term use is being decided. The show itself has always traveled: it found Redwood City through a personal connection, moved across town once already, and has never had a permanent home here.
In 2018 the circus was not downtown at all. That year the City announced an 11th season from Oct. 12 through Nov. 4, with the 500-seat tent "home to Red Morton Park" at 1455 Madison Ave. That release also noted "multiple parking lots distributed around the park." By 2021, when Palo Alto Online profiled the family, the tent was on the library lot. Giovanni Zoppé told the paper that a friend had introduced him to Lucas Wilder, then the City's assistant parks, recreation and community services director, and that Wilder backed the idea.
The run also moved on the calendar. It used to be an October show that ended near Election Day. Now it fills November and stops for Thanksgiving. In 2018 the City named its Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department as the circus's sponsor. The 2026 run is listed on the City's own events pages.
Some of the family history is local too. On the City's circus page, Giovanni Zoppé's son Julien is described as born at Sequoia Hospital, and he made his circus debut here when he was six days old. Giovanni plays Nino the Clown. In 2004, at 32, he became the youngest inductee in the International Clown Hall of Fame up to that point.
On Sept. 22 the City announced it is "exploring the potential redevelopment" of Lot B as an affordable housing development with complementary uses and public parking. It also said no developer has been chosen and there is no final proposal. An open house took place Oct. 6 in the Downtown Library Community Room, and an online survey stayed open through Oct. 20. The City says the library will stay open for the whole project.
The size of the idea comes from scenarios presented at a May 11 City Council meeting. The Walking Redwood City blog described five of them: buildings of seven or eight stories, 70 to 104 affordable units, and 74 to 100 public parking spaces. Compared with the 98 spaces there today, that range runs from a modest loss of parking to a slight gain. The question being studied is how much of the lot's current job carries over, since parking stays in every scenario. The Redwood City Pulse reported that the Council vote directing staff to collect input was unanimous. The paper also tied the effort to the City's state housing target of 4,588 homes for the 2023–31 cycle, with 3,267 still to be accommodated by January 2031.
On the circus, the Pulse put it simply: "City materials do not address whether redevelopment could affect future performances." That means nothing has been decided either way. Whatever happens to Lot B, the paper reported that any development would still need further approvals and financing.
The 2026 schedule from the City's admission page takes two-day breaks on Nov. 9–10 and Nov. 16–17, and goes dark on Thanksgiving Day:
Ticket prices go up as the run goes on and on weekends. Weekday adult seats are $17 to $23, front row $22 to $28, and youth $12 to $22. Friday through Sunday, adults pay $17 to $30, front row $24 to $37, and youth $12 to $25. In 2018 a weekday adult ticket was $17 and the most expensive weekend adult seat was $21. The cheapest seat costs the same eight years later. The top weekend price has gone up by $9.
Tickets are sold online through Afton until showtime unless a show sells out, and there are no refunds or exchanges. The box office in the tent opens 45 minutes before the first show of the day and takes cash and credit cards. If a seat type no longer appears online, that show is sold out. The show lasts about two hours. The City suggests arriving 30 minutes early for the outdoor preshow. Every seat is within 20 feet of the ring.
Putting the tent on the lot means losing its parking. Walking Redwood City warns that the lot will be unavailable "for pretty much the entire month of November" and suggests regular library visitors plan ahead. For circus-goers, the City's FAQ suggests longer-term downtown meters and the Box, Jefferson and Marshall garages, along with Caltrain and SamTrans.
Driving downtown has its own complications this fall. The City's Broadway Pavement Overlay and Curb Ramp Project has a construction window of July through November 2026. It covers repaving, ADA curb ramps, a bikeway, striping and pedestrian crossings. In late October, paving crews were working on Broadway between Maple and Chestnut, near Mademoiselle Colette, and closing the street completely at times. Spring Street between Main and Walnut has also been permanently closed since Sept. 1 for the 1900 Broadway development, with detours on Walnut. For a 6:30 p.m. weekday show, the train or a garage spot found early is likely easier than circling Broadway.
The two-hour show leaves time for the blocks around it. A few pairings work with the schedule:
Once the tent comes down after the Nov. 29 matinee, Lot B goes back to being a parking lot. Its next official step is the Council meeting. The City's housing developments page says the open house feedback will go to the City Council later in 2026. After that, the City plans to follow the state Surplus Land Act process and request development proposals in early 2027. The page links the presentation boards from the Oct. 6 open house for anyone who wants to see the concepts.
Downtown's next large gathering, Hometown Holidays, is set for Saturday, Dec. 12, from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Courthouse Square. The City lists a parade, Santa activities and the tree lighting, and notes that details are still tentative. That same morning, the Merry Marketplace runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Fox Theatre lobby at 2221 Broadway.
If you'd like to talk about downtown Redwood City, the Lot B process, or anything else happening around the Peninsula, Stephanie Nash is glad to hear from you. Let's Connect.
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For more than three decades, Stephanie Nash has been one of the Peninsula’s most trusted and proven real estate advisors, serving Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, Redwood City, Emerald Hills, San Carlos, Half Moon Bay, and the surrounding communities from Burlingame to Los Gatos.
Born and raised on the Peninsula, Stephanie brings true insider knowledge of the region; its micro-neighborhoods, school corridors, country-property enclaves, and the lifestyle features that make this area so coveted: sunny weather, an easygoing spirit, hiking trails, large-parcel retreats, ocean-view hillsides, and world-class food and culture.
Stephanie began her real estate career in 1987 working in local title companies before becoming the assistant to a top-producing agent. She earned her real estate license in 1991, and since then has built a reputation as a solutions-driven, ethical, and steady negotiator who guides clients through every complexity of a California transaction.
Her track record includes everything from luxury estates to rural acreage to trust and estate sales, including the successful sale of a 500-acre property, a transaction requiring extensive due diligence, jurisdictional navigation, and long-term strategy.
Stephanie has been recognized multiple times by RealTrends as one of the “Best Agents in America,” most recently in 2024; an honor reserved for the top tier of agents nationwide based on verified production.
In addition to client representation, Stephanie now serves as a retained Expert Witness in California real estate cases—including valuation disputes, fiduciary sales, marketing standards, agent performance, disclosure practices, and industry-standard care.
Whether you are buying, selling, downsizing, expanding, or handling a trust/estate sale, Stephanie offers:
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Clients praise her listening skills, honesty, and ability to navigate even the most emotional or complicated sale with clarity and professionalism.
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