DOWNEY — The circus has come back to town.

Circus Vargas has made its return to Downey, once again raising its big top in the parking lot of the Stonewood Center, kicking off with performances over the weekend, and staying through May 20.

The show this year, called Jublie: An Epic World Celebration, is “modeled after a peace on earth story” done in “our own circus way” according to circus owner Katya Arata-Quiroga.

“It’s the story of how different cultures and different countries come together and can be one,” said Arata-Quiroga.

The cast has expanded from years past, bringing new performers while enhancing old favorites.

“Every year, people want some joy in their lives,” said Katya Arata-Quiroga. “That’s something that we try to give to people. They come here, they forget their problems, they get some joy, they see something new.

“That’s why every year there’s a new show with new acts. Sometimes old favorites come back like the wheel of destiny, like the motorcycle globe, but we add something new. Like this year, instead of three motorcycles, this year you have four motorcycles in the cage. So, even though sometimes we bring back old favorites, they will have been refurbished, renewed, improved, made more exciting, better.”

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson described what audiences will see at Circus Vargas as “a miracle in front of your face.”

“Circus tells its own story in a way of human beings who clearly work exceedingly hard at what they do because what they do is so high risk; for most of the acts, it’s very high risk,” said Iverson. “So, they’re constantly retooling and doing all the things necessary to produce the magic that they will share with you, and they take pride in these things. They represent their countries, they represent their cultures, they’re ambassadors for that, but they represent it in the framework of our collective culture, which is circus.”

For ticket information, visit circusvargas.com.