MONACO CIRCUS FESTIVAL
Monaco: Parisian pompiers, cunning camels and comic clowns are among 200 circus artists in MonacoCircus street parade SaturdayIt’s a big weekend for the Principality. As the 120 Monte-Carlo Rally cars leave town after their final show-down in the hills on Friday night, the International Circus Festival takes to the streets for a Big Parade on Saturday. The menagerie is in place and the traditional band and compère are in fine voice as ten days of competition and circus shows unfold until 30th of January.Started by Prince Rainier III in 1974, the Festival celebrates 35 years in style with nine large troupes bringing the number of artists on stage to nearly 200, at least 50 more than usual. A highlight is the parade on Saturday which starts at 2.30pm from the “Big Tent” in Fontvieille. It wends its way through the streets to Place d’Armes on the other side of the Rock and then up to the Palace for an open air show featuring the elephants buffet, camels and horses, a high-wire act by the Weishet troupe and “many other surprises”.
As usual, a mini zoo has sprung up round the tent and the pungent smell of horse manure and elephant dung fills the genteel air of this rather salubrious district. Always controversial, the presence of animals in this circus is what sets it apart, particularly for children. The organisers, with Princess Stéphanie as a very hands-on president, argue that zoos and circuses play an important role in animal conservation and that they keep a very close eye on the welfare of the acts they invite. This year there are five animal acts featuring elephants, horses, camels and tigers.
read more at:http://www.rivieratimes.com/index.php/monaco-article/items/circus-street-parade-saturday-2101.html
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