Big top smiles galore
Annual circus wows local crowds
Pelolito the Clown greets attendees to the Cole Bros. Circus. / Staff photo/Cody Glenn
Written by Deborah M. Marko
from:thedailyjournal.com
May. 14, 2012
VINELAND — Kwmae Ford relished his first circus on his fourth birthday.
His mother, Terri Ford of Millville, joked she booked the Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars for her son’s big day.
But it was Vineland Fire Company 2 who welcomed a caravan of performers to town for the 47th year, said Fire Captain Ryan Feaster.
The purpose is two-fold — family fun and fundraising, Feaster said. Firefighters give free tickets to area group homes to encourage them to bring the residents out for a night of entertainment.
A portion of the performance proceeds will be used to purchase fire equipment that isn’t covered within the municipal budget, Feaster said. One thing on their wish list is additional tools for their rescue truck.
Instead of asking donations, the fire department hosts the clowning around, which is a family tradition for many local families.
The first show, that opened at 5 p.m., was a sell-out.
Vanna Bara, 5, of Millville sat in the VIP front-row center seats.
Her grandmother, Vera Borisovs of Heislerville, purchases the premium seats each year on the day they go on sale.
“I love the horsies,” said Vanna, precariously balancing popcorn and a newly acquired sparkly neon magic wand.
“And I love her,” Borisovs said, giving the little girl a bear hug.
Dominic Ruiz, 4, of Vineland was wide-eyed walking in the entrance of what he called “the castle.” He was mesmerized by the star-dusted ceiling and the gleam of the acrobats’ death-defying Wheel of Destiny as his mom, Brandi Pappa, tugged him toward their seats.
Pappa said she was about as young as her son when her firefighting dad brought her to her first circus.
Haylee Burlew, leaning over the barrier, was dressed a princess. She fit in with the sparkle of the performers.
“This is normal,” said her mother Jennifer Burlew of Millville, noting her daughter has been “royal” since birth.
Haylee’s dad, Dean Burlew, enjoyed the highwire act.
But it’s not something he’d like to pursue, he said, more a feet-firmly-on-the-ground kind of guy.
Katelyn Rossi, 11, was most impressed by the two women who spun by their hair. Her friend, Abigail Sprouse, 12, joked she was going to try it on her younger sister, Averi, 9, who had the longest locks of the group.
The circus featured a menagerie of animals including tigers, elephants and even pink poodles.
Averi wasn’t eager to take home any wildlife souvenirs.
“I already have two dogs,” she said.
Before going home, Kwmae Ford enjoyed his birthday, setting astride an elephant named LouLou. Almost aware of her previous pint-sized passengers, she glided around in a small circle giving Terri Ford the best camera angle of her son’s beaming smile.
Getting off LouLou and running down the stairs, Kwmae told his mom riding the elephant was like “walking on air.”
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