ZOPPE CIRCUS

Nino the Clown (Giovanni Zoppe) holds his 6-month-old son Ninetto (Julien), inside their circus tent set up at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland for KidFest! (Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger)

KidFest!

kicks into high gear this year, blossoming from two days to two weekends of big entertainment for small fry.

Old-style circus among many acts at two-weekend event

The eighth annual family festival at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland covers six acres with acts that amuse and amaze.Some notable additions ramp up the draw.Beloved Nino the Clown (Giovanni Zoppe) is now a dad, and baby Ninetto, just 6 months old, dons a pint-sized version of Dad's outfit and gets center ring, too, in Zoppe, An Italian Family Circus.An ear-to-ear smile and red dot nose are irresistible enough on little Ninetto (Julien Zoppe) but his balancing act in his dad's hand will elicit oohs as well as coos.How long has he been performing? "My whole life," Nino said from behind the babe, adding, "he started when he was 6 days old. He was in the ring.""What do they say about not working with animals and kids? I don't think circus people believe that," festival consultant Bob McFarland said, looking on with a grin.The intimate one-ring tent seats 500 with the farthest seat a mere 20 feet from the action. Horses, dogs, juggling and a trapeze act round out the circus."They'll see true antique-style circus of a bygone era," Giovanni Zoppe said. "Stepping into our tent is like stepping into a tent over 100 years ago. You really step into the past and become part of our family when you come see our show."Zoppe, An Italian Family Circus will have two shows on Fridays, four on Saturdays and three on Sundays during KidFest. Included with festival admission, it's a bargain (stand-alone Zoppe shows command upward of $20).The festival's target audience is age 2 to 12, but Zoppe appeals to all ages, including teenagers, adults and grandparents."Teenagers will love the thrill acts, too," such as the Fearless Flores Family on the Swaypole and the Globe of Death, said Ridgeland Recreation & Parks director Chris Chance.A new draw is the surprisingly hilarious Team Ghost Riders: The Cowboy Monkeys, with capuchin monkeys astride border collies herding sheep. They'll entertain Sunday and the entire weekend, April 30-May 2.

Ridgeland, Mississippi