Hickman to host first circus in 114 years
By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star Posted: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 7:00 am
An old-fashioned circus, with a Big Top tent and a menagerie of animals, will stop in Hickman for two shows Saturday afternoon.
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will perform in an open area in the Woodland Plaza Development on the north edge of town just off 68th Street.
But the fun starts Saturday morning.
Circus fans can watch crews raise the giant blue and white striped tent between 9:30 and 10 a.m. and stay for a free walking tour of the grounds.
The 9,600-square-foot tent weighs 3,600 pounds and stands 30 feet tall at its highest. The canvas giant perches on two center poles and is supported by 32 side poles and 16 quarter poles. The whole thing is held down by 100 stakes, pounded in by Paul Bunyan-sized sledge hammers.
Started in 1985, the one-ring Culpepper & Merriweather Circus has been featured on National Geographic's Explorer TV series and other shows.
According to its website, the Hugo, Okla.-based circus travels about 15,000 miles each year from March to October, performing more than 200 shows in 18 states.
It's coming to Hickman to raise money for the Hickman Area Community Foundation, said Doug Hanson, a member of the foundation and the City Council.
Hanson said the circus contacted the foundation about four months ago and told them it had an open day in May.
Hanson said his first reaction was: Why would we want to do this?
But after talking it over with other foundation members, they thought it was a great idea.
"There has not been a circus in town for a long, long, time," he said.
Linda Bryant, foundation president and publisher of the Hickman Voice News, said it's been 114 years, according to her research.
People who go to the Culpepper & Merriweather show will see performing camels, high-wire and trapeze acts, clowns -- including one who plays a bagpipe on a unicycle -- a dog and pony revue, and other acts up close.
Hanson said the foundation will receive a portion of ticket sales to go toward building an aquatics center and beautification projects.
"People are really excited that the community foundation can bring entertainment to a town like this, especially a circus," Bryant said. "You don't see elephants and tigers in Hickman every day."
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will perform in an open area in the Woodland Plaza Development on the north edge of town just off 68th Street.
But the fun starts Saturday morning.
Circus fans can watch crews raise the giant blue and white striped tent between 9:30 and 10 a.m. and stay for a free walking tour of the grounds.
The 9,600-square-foot tent weighs 3,600 pounds and stands 30 feet tall at its highest. The canvas giant perches on two center poles and is supported by 32 side poles and 16 quarter poles. The whole thing is held down by 100 stakes, pounded in by Paul Bunyan-sized sledge hammers.
Started in 1985, the one-ring Culpepper & Merriweather Circus has been featured on National Geographic's Explorer TV series and other shows.
According to its website, the Hugo, Okla.-based circus travels about 15,000 miles each year from March to October, performing more than 200 shows in 18 states.
It's coming to Hickman to raise money for the Hickman Area Community Foundation, said Doug Hanson, a member of the foundation and the City Council.
Hanson said the circus contacted the foundation about four months ago and told them it had an open day in May.
Hanson said his first reaction was: Why would we want to do this?
But after talking it over with other foundation members, they thought it was a great idea.
"There has not been a circus in town for a long, long, time," he said.
Linda Bryant, foundation president and publisher of the Hickman Voice News, said it's been 114 years, according to her research.
People who go to the Culpepper & Merriweather show will see performing camels, high-wire and trapeze acts, clowns -- including one who plays a bagpipe on a unicycle -- a dog and pony revue, and other acts up close.
Hanson said the foundation will receive a portion of ticket sales to go toward building an aquatics center and beautification projects.
"People are really excited that the community foundation can bring entertainment to a town like this, especially a circus," Bryant said. "You don't see elephants and tigers in Hickman every day."
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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