THE BALLOON MAN

Cole Bro. Circus headed to Havelock
Three days, six shows

Five-year-old Enzo Dillion, right, covers his face in laughter at the antics of Tom E. Boy, aka Tom King, a clown from the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars on Monday. The clown visited Child Care Network on U.S. 70 and other day cares in advance of the circus, which is in Havelock April 9, 10, and 11.
Drew C. Wilson/Havelock News
April 05, 2012
Little Enzo Dillion broke down in laughter as Tom E. Boy, a clown from the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars played one trick after another on him Monday.

Enzo wasn’t alone as all of the youngsters at Child Care Network on U.S. 70 were in stitches when the clown, also known as Tom King, made a series of advance visits to Havelock to drum up interest in the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars and give away tickets. The circus is coming back to town April 9, 10 and 11 for six shows at Walter B. Jones Park.

King found it easy to bust these kids out with hilarity only a clown can produce.

“I absolutely love it. I’ve done it for 25 years,” King said. “There is nothing like the look on their faces. These kids are very receptive. It’s all in the tone of your voice.”

“No matter what your age, when you got to the circus you’re young again,” said John Flanagan, of VFW Post 7315, the host organization for the circus again this year.

“It’s just something that breaks the monotony. Come out and enjoy the show. We have so many other problems through out life that a little entertainment would relieve some of the pressure,” Flanagan said.

Some 400 free tickets are being distributed to active duty military dependents, Flanagan said.

According to Bill Dundee, a marketing representative for Cole Brothers, the circus trucks will pull into Havelock late Sunday night.

Dundee said that the circus has a new tent.

“It’s bigger than the one we had last year. It’s bigger than a football field,” Dundee said.

“If you‘ve never seen them raise the tent come see them raise that tent.  It’s orchestrated mayhem…50 guys out there doing what they do best,” Dundee said.

Dundee said the tent will be raised from sunrise to about noon on Monday.

This is the 128th edition of the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars. Headlining in this year’s show will be amazing animal acts including Asian elephants, Judit and Juergen Nerger’s Splendid Tigers and Abuhadba’s “Dressed for Success” French Poodles. Also part of the show will be Romania’s Cretu Family doing springboard gymnastics along with Lana and Company, from Kazakhastan, an amazing balancing act. The Globe of Death, in which motorcycles ride around inside a steel sphere, will return along with the Human Cannonball along with many, many other family entertainment acts.

“It’s about the only thing that’s left that’s G-rated.  There no nudity, no bad language and it’s a family show and that’s what people like,” Dundee said.

In past year’s the circus has only been in Havelock for two days, but Dundee said high gas prices will keep the show parked in Havelock for three days this year.

According to Flanagan, tickets can be purchased at the Painted Pelican in Morehead City, Kittrell Auto Sales, Tops Cigars and Coastal Mini Storage in Havelock.

General admission is $14, which can be upgraded for an additional $3 for reserve seating. Add $6 to the general admission price for VIP seating in the first eight rows closest to the performance area.

Free tickets for children can be obtained by going online to www.freekidstickets.com of www.gotothecircus.com. Advance tickets can be bought by phone at 1-888-332-5200.

Show times are 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on April 9, 10 and 11.