Opening Dec. 13 at San Francisco's Fort Mason's Cowell Theatre will be Jingle Pickles, a family-oriented show presented by the New Pickle Circus.

The production promises "ribtickling antics, elegant juggling, astonishing acrobatics, beautiful feats of aerial artistry (acrobatics designed by Lu Yi of the famed Nanjing Troupe) and seasonal surprises," all backed by "the red hot Pickle Circus band."

Tandy Beal directs the show, which offers special guests such as juggling "slack-wire" walker Jamie Adkins, who spent four months with the Moscow circus and a year at the Ecole Nationale De Cirque in Montreal. Some "gherkins" will even get into this Pickle barrel, as members of the Children's Performing Troupe of the San Francisco School Of Circle Arts will also appear.

The Pickle troup sprang from the brine 21 years ago as the Pickle Family Circus, founded by clown Larry Pisone. That company went bankrupt four years ago and was bought out of receivership by company members and Tandy Beals. Through it all, however, they've never missed a season.

Jingle Pickles runs through Jan. 1, 1997 at Fort Mason's Cowell Theatre on Marina Boulevard. For tickets ($12-$22) and information call (415) 392-4400. -- By David Lefkowitz