Meet Nellie the Circus van - Our Adventure van

How Nellie joined our family

For many years, whenever we performed at festivals, community events, outdoor circus jams, and youth projects, transport was always a challenge. We needed a way to move not only our circus equipment but also our crew, young people, and volunteers.As our work grew, so did the need for a dedicated vehicle that could support our adventures and community projects. After years of dreaming, planning, and saving, we finally welcomed Nellie into our family.

​Nellie is more than just a van. She helps us bring circus arts to communities, transport equipment to shows and festivals, support youth development projects, and make new adventures possible.
We are excited to begin this new chapter and would love to share our journeys with you. From performances and festivals to hidden beaches, forests, mountains, and community events, Nellie will help us create unforgettable experiences and lasting memories along the way.

Why the name Nellie?

Many people ask us where the name Nellie came from.If you know the famous song "Nellie the Elephant" by The Toy Dolls, you'll already know part of the story. The song tells the tale of a circus elephant called Nellie, and as soon as we bought our van, the connection felt perfect.
Our van is big, strong, reliable, and built to carry circus equipment, performers, and adventures — just like a circus elephant. But unlike the Nellie in the song, our Nellie doesn't want to run away from the circus. She loves the circus and is always ready for the next adventure!
The name was truly decided after one of our bonfire performances at Sandy's Community Centre. As we travelled home, the van was packed with performers, costumes, and equipment. Someone started singing "Nellie the Elephant", and before long everyone in the van was singing along.
From that moment on, the name stuck.
Today, Nellie is much more than a vehicle. She's part of our circus family, and we love our Nellie with all our hearts.

What's Next for Nellie?

This is only the beginning of Nellie's adventures.Over the coming months, Nellie will be travelling across Scotland carrying performers, circus equipment, young people, and plenty of excitement. We have plans for performances, festivals, community events, outdoor circus jams, workshops, and organised day trips to some of Scotland's most beautiful and inspiring locations.

We hope Nellie will help us bring people together, discover new places, learn new skills, and create unforgettable memories along the way.
Keep an eye on our website and blog as we share photos, stories, adventures, and updates from the road. We can't wait to take you along for the journey!
See you on the road,
Nellie and the Aerial Art House team 🚐🎪❤️