Shriner Circus

The big catsChinese acrobats
Here's a 30 second video of the motorcycle doing loop-de-loops at the end of the act


Bungee jumping acrobatsWalking around the circus floor at intermission
I was glad he didn't spit at me!
Kids enjoying an elephant ride
Cookie the clown
Now that's a colorful 'do!
Sitting in the stands

We took the boys to their first circus yesterday. It was smaller than the typical RB/B&B super mega blowout circus, which was fine. They had most of the standard acts, but no tightrope or trapeze artists, which I missed. They did have some motorcycle and freestyle bicycle acts which the boys loved. Johnny also really liked the Chinese acrobats and the "bendy lady" and Sammy liked the performing house cats. They were pretty cute! One of the magician's acts still has me amazed and I have NO idea how he did it. We went during the day which was a little weird for me because I always think of the circus as being dark with lots of spotlights. But it was better earlier because the later time would have been much colder (both boys were chilly as it was) and it would have gone waaaay past their bedtime. As it was, Sammy started saying he wanted to go home before it was even halfway over ... mostly because he was hungry. They both had a great time, as did I. I don't think they were quite as impressed as I was as a child, perhaps because it was a smaller, lower budget circus. They didn't seem to really get the point of the performing animals - but it at least had to be cool to see lions and tigers and elephants, etc. in the same room. None of us really likes clowns ... they're just kind of creepy, especially the ones who won't smile. "Cookie" was very friendly and happy to smile for a photo. I would imagine some of the grumpier ones got roped into dressing up and didn't really feel like being a clown. I was happy to get out and do something fun as a family ... that's the best part.