During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Circus performed on weekends in the San Francisco Bay area during Spring and Fall, and toured for 3 months in the summer, mostly in towns along Highway 101 in Northern California and Oregon.

The local sponsor sold advance tickets (getting a portion of the revenue), did publicity and site preparation, and ran a midway.

John Kreidler's Alameda County Neighborhood Arts Program was the Pickles' first fiscal sponsor, which received the $10,000 NEA grant.

[6] The early company operated on three fundamental principles: All decisions were made collectively by the entire group, all members got the same pay, and all performers also had offstage jobs.

Several members of the Pickle Family Circus were in the 1980 movie Popeye starring Robin Williams, including Bill Irwin (playing Ham Gravy), Larry Pisoni (Chico), Geoff Hoyle (Scoop), Peggy Snider (playing Pickelina and credited as Peggy Pisoni), and Judy Finelli.