THE BALLOON MAN

Circus entertains families at Balmoral Park racetrack

Christian Saavedra keeps his eyes on the tigers while watching the Kelly Miller Circus show during its stop at Balmoral Park in Crete, IL on Monday 5, September, 2011 Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

BY MATTHEW BRUCE Correspondent

September 5, 2011

Updated: September 6, 2011

Bunny-hopping tigers, tumbling Brazilians and a trio of elephants standing upright on their hind legs.
That was the scene this weekend as the Kelly Miller Circus came to the Southland, hitting Balmoral Park racetrack in Crete for a two-day stint Sunday and Monday.
It was Kelly Miller’s first stop in the Chicago area this year as it prepares to wrap up its nationwide tour next month. The two-hour show featured aerial acrobatics, a high-flying trapeze performer, clowns, jugglers, an Argentinean tumbling family and several animal acts. The show lit up the big top four times over the Labor Day weekend, performing twice each day it was at Balmoral.

Expert tiger trainer Ryan Holder works with tigers during the Kelly Miller Circus show at its stop at Balmoral Park in Crete, IL on Monday 5, September, 2011 Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

“We believe this is one of the premier circuses around,” Kelly Miller road office manager Tavana Brown said. “It’s a big top, so it’s a whole different atmosphere than a civic center or a big stadium.”
Brown said the Oklahoma-based Kelly Miller show offers one of the last tented circuses in the United States And she said it’s one-ring format provides for a more intimate experience for fans than at a Ringling Bros. show.
“If you sit ringside, the elephants are right there in your face,” she said. “They can sneeze right in your face sometimes.”

Mike Rice walks with camels in the Kelly Miller Circus show during its stop at Balmoral Park in Crete, IL on Monday 5, September, 2011 Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

This year’s act was dubbed the “Wild West” edition, featuring tiger tamers, trained camels, a cowboy rope spinner, a dog-and-pony act and an all-American patriotic Wild West salute as a finale. The show travels 38 weeks from February to October, journeying from Texas to New Hampshire hitting stops all along the way before making its way back to headquarters in Hugo.
The show also included the lithe Poema family featuring an acrobatic routine in whicv the father juggles his children with his feet.
“It’s a great show. The little kids flipping were awesome,” said Park Forest resident Matthew Brooks, who brought his kids out for Monday’s show.
The festivities also included pony, camel and elephant rides before the show began and during intermission. Tinley Park tot Elle Villari hit the show with her brother Trevor. Trevor was most impressed with the aerial trapeze performers swinging from rings high atop the tent, while Elle liked the elephant act.
“It’s lots of fun,” she said.
The show left town Monday, but is not quite done in the Southland. It made a pit stop in Midlothian on Monday before heading to Posen and Berwyn later this week.