The grouping of several blue and yellow tents, 60 or more trucks the size of moving vans, construction workers and staff running in and around this makeshift village can signal only one exciting event — Cirque is in town.

Opening Aug. 15 for a limited engagement, Cirque du Soleil makes its Washington home under the Grand Chapiteau (big top) at the Plateau at National Harbor. Tickets are now available for the latest production, “Totem,” written and directed by Robert Lepage.