Guilford Fair Gates Open Friday Afternoon

 

Some new and different attractions are planned for this year's event.
from:  madison-ct.patch.com
By Sarah Page Kyrcz
Sept. 20, 2010
The activity level at the Guilford Fair grounds is rising as tents are erected, exhibitors deliver their goods, rides are assembled and fair organizers make sure everything is in order before the gates open at 1 p.m. Friday.

For the Guilford Agricultural Society this weekend is a culmination of months and months of meetings, planning and scheduling. This all-volunteer group works throughout the year to make sure the fair gates open every year with fun and entertainment for the whole family.

If past years are any indication and of course, weather permitting, they are anticipating more than 25,000 to pass though the gates.

“The Agriculture Society’s main mission is to maintain the fairgrounds and put on the fair,” said member David Rosenthal. “That’s kind of what our focus is throughout the year. Even though the fair’s only three days there’s a lot of things that go into it in terms of planning.”

The group has been working not only to bring back all the excitement that attracts families year after year, including The Flying Wallendas, the antique tractor pull, the Childrens’ Zoo, the fabulous food court, and the cows, pigs, goats and chickens that fill the barnyard & animal exhibit tents, but has added some new and different attractions.
read more:
http://madison-ct.patch.com/articles/guilford-fair-gates-open-friday-afternoon-6bb7d72b

 

 Circle the dragons: 'Greatest Show on Earth' rolls into SLC

"Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey The Greatest Show on Earth presents Dragons" is coming to the EnergySolutions Arena on Sept. 24-30, 2012.

 Ph: Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey
By Cody Clark, Daily Herald
from:  heraldextra.com
Sept 20, 2012
There will be no real dragons inside the building when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey The Greatest Show on Earth wheels into EnergySolutions Arena this weekend to present its 2012 show "Dragons." Hey, even the circus isn't that magical. Besides, a real dragon would just eat all of the other animals and then set fire to the big top.

There's no such thing as the big top anymore, incidentally, unless maybe you think of sports arenas and their roofs as standing in for old-time circus tents. (Welcome to the 21st century.) Even though there's no tent and no real dragons, however, you can still find plenty of fun, excitement and eye-filling spectacle as the most famous circus of them all (still going after more than 120 years) visits Salt Lake City.

The "Dragons" theme of this year's circus was inspired by 2012 being the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese calendar. Circus director Shanda Sawyer said in an interview with Orlando Weekly that having a theme and a storyline gives the show a framework. Circusgoers will still see all of the same sorts of things that people expect to see at a circus, just as part of the same big presentation.

One thing people expect to see at a circus is the animals. That's where Hans Klose comes in: Klose is a second-generation circus performer (his parents were acrobats) and dog trainer. He has about 13 dogs who perform in the show, and travels with 20 dogs altogether.

 

"Once I have a dog and it performs in the show, it stays with me its entire life," Klose said. "You tend to get attached to them because you work so closely with them."

His dogs are a mixed lot, including four Standard Poodles, a Great Dane, seven Fox Terriers, an Australian Shepherd and a few mixed-breed dogs. Some of the dogs he works with were given to the circus by their former owners, Klose said, and others were rescued from dog pounds and animal shelters.

Klose said that different dogs learn at different speeds, and some tricks take longer than others to master, so he has plenty of work to do whenever there's not a show. And no, it's not true what they say. You can, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks, Klose said: "Some of my dogs do five or six different tricks. It just depends on what the dog is willing to do. Every dog is different, and some are a little bit more willing to learn than others."

Speaking of old dogs, Klose said that the longest he's ever had a dog in the show is probably 12 years. It depends, he said, on what you're asking them to do. "If they're just rolling over, or sitting up," he said, "they can do that their whole lives."
read more:
http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/circle-the-dragons-greatest-show-on-earth-rolls-into-slc/article_636e6c44-c422-55f2-bab8-92926590e516.html

Audience participation
 Phineas and Ferb live Show is ready to get the young crowd involved

 

Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever! comes Saturday to Stockton Arena.
feld media
By Jo Ann Kirby
Record Staff Writer
September 20, 2012
Pity the poor parents who have freaky smart kids on school break.

If idle hands make for the devil's work, imagine the havoc idle minds can muster.

And that's exactly why "Phineas and Ferb" is such a hit Disney animated television comedy-musical series.

Just consider the lyrics to the show's theme song.

"There's 104 days of summer vacation. And school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for our generation, is finding a good way to spend it. Like maybe ... building a rocket, or fighting a mummy, or climbing up the Eiffel Tower!"

Well, you get the picture.

The TV show follows Phineas and his stepbrother, Ferb, on summer vacation. Every day, the boys embark on some preposterous new project, which annoys tattle-tale sister Candace, who is foiled in her attempts to alert their parents
On Saturday, the hit series comes to Stockton Arena in the form of a live-action show - Disney's Phineas and Ferb: The Best Live Tour Ever! "We involve the audience by asking them what their ideas are for the show for our Idea Mashup Machine," said actor Adrian Baez, who performs as Phineas in the stage production. "Come expecting to participate and walk out like you've been at a rock concert."
read more at:
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120920/A_ENTERTAIN/209200306

Fair receives warm welcome after rainy delay

 

Mallory Brown | Daily Journa l

6-year-old Sequoia Davis steps off the Circus Train on Wednesday at the Richmond County Fair.
from:  yourdailyjournal.com
by Mallory Brown
Sept 20, 2012
Rockingham, NC--A band of rain storms kept many fairgoers away on Tuesday, but less than an hour after gates opened on day two of the Richmond County Fair, visitors were lined up at ticket booths in support of their community.

“We had to close down yesterday because of the weather,” said Assistant Fair Manager Rena Shedrick-Marshall on Wednesday. “It was pretty bad out here. We still have some puddles of water and mud, but it’s not nearly as bad as it was last night.”

Despite the washout, Shedrick-Marshall said visitors were lined up outside the gate.

“We did allow some people to come in and walk through the barn and see the animals,” she said. “That made the kids feel really good — to be able to get in after their parents had come out. I’m seeing a lot of people on pins and needles to come in.”

Less than a half hour after gates opened on Wednesday, the fair saw a steady increase of traffic — including a large demand to ride the newest rides.

 

Mallory Brown | Daily Journal

Kendall Jenkins, 6, was first in line for the pony rides.
Among the new attractions were pony rides from a company called Blueberry Hill Pony Rides out of Alma, Mich.

Six-year-old Kendall Jenkins of Ellerbe was first in line to jump in the saddle.

“She loves (horses),” said her mother, Erica Smith. “She got to sit on one at the flea market one time, and that was it.”

Kendall said this was the second year she has attended the Richmond County Fair.

Across the fairgrounds, Sequoia Davis, 6, had just finished her ride on another of the fair’s newest attractions — a colorful train that carried riders through a series of twists and turns.

“I rode a real one, too,” Davis said as she made her way back from the ride.

Mallory Brown | Daily Journal

A line of parents and children wait for ticket booths to open on Wednesday.
The crowd remained steady for the first part of the afternoon, and ride operators speculated that numbers would grow higher toward the weekend.

Wednesday’s entertainment schedule included singer Beth McDonald, the Hamlet Senior Cheerleaders and Line Dancers, Ervin V. Roscoe Jr. and DJ Jimmie Reese.

Vendors like local restaurant Peking Wok and the AMVETS sold food, alongside Sandhills Memorial Hospital staffers who performed blood pressure checks. Local fire departments and emergency services were also present to discuss disaster planning.

The fair will continue on Thursday, with gates opening at 4 p.m.
excitement, and you have to be able to make it change to stay with the times," said Froehlich.

Other perennial favorites like the pig races simply get tweaked from time to time.

"You have to have the pig races, but year after year you get to thinking that it's the same old pig races. But there was a new twist this year with the wiener dogs racing," Froehlich said. "It was a new concept and a very, very popular attraction."

Kept returning: York Fair President Gene Schenck said he was very pleased with the crowd this year, and the fact that the crowd kept coming back.

"We saw lots of people who came three or four times, and that means there was plenty of stuff to see," Schenck said. "You can't set the fair up so people can see one thing and see it all within two hours, because if it runs 10 days you need people to come more than once."

More and more fairgoers are traveling from neighboring counties and even neighboring states like Virginia and New York, said Schenck.

Ultimately, Schenck attributes the record-breaking attendance at this year's fair to the perfect weather all week.

"It was mostly the weather, so we're not going to pat ourselves on the back too much," he said. "The weather explains why they came, but the experience they had explains why they came back more than once."

 

Officials: 'Great' year at York Fair

By CHELSEA SHANK The York Dispatch
yorkdispatch.com
09/19/2012
Before the York Fair even began this year, Mike Froehlich was already thinking about next year's fair.

Froehlich became the York Fair's first full-time general manager in 2008 and says a lot of people ask him what he does the rest of the year, since the fair is only 10 days long.

But the fair takes a full year to plan.

Each of the 30 staff members must wear two hats, as they also plan for events held throughout the year at the York Fairgrounds and Expo Center, Froehlich said.

"We had a great fair this year, there is no doubt about that," Froehlich said.

"Fairs have to reflect the diversity of their communities, and York has a strong agricultural heritage and when you come to the fair you see that," he said. "Our livestock entries were up this year, and we have a strong 4-H and FFA program, and the horticulture hall was full, too."

"The educational animal birthing center was once again a huge success," Froehlich said. "We had a number of live births that took place throughout the fair, even though we cannot guarantee a live delivery. I think that's a highlight for people."

Other bright spots: The grandstand concerts were very successful, and the ride company brought in more than 50 rides, which was an increase from previous years, he said.

Another huge hit was the exotic animal petting zoo added this year, where visitors could see exotic birds, lemurs, camels, giraffes and other animals.

"There was always a long line getting in there. I wish there was a way to get people to move through there quicker, but that's just the nature of the beast, no pun intended," said Froehlich with a laugh.

The butter sculpture, roaming performers and circus act were also popular, but Froehlich said the success of something does not necessarily guarantee its return the following year.

"Some things you have to change around so that people say, 'Hey, what are we going to see at the fair this year?' You have to build that 

Dragons come soaring into Buffalo

from: wivb.com

Diana Fairbanks

Posted by: Eli George

19 Sep 2012

Dragons come soaring into Buffalo

Attendance dip doesn't faze Mohave fair officials

 

JC AMBERLYN/Miner
Attendance was down at the fair this year, but the rides – and the parking lots – were pretty full. Top: A view of the midway from on top of the ferris wheel.
By Suzanne Adams--Miner Staff Reporter
from:  kingmandailyminer
9/19/2012
A low turnout didn't dampen the spirits of the Mohave County Fair Committee.

Attendance dropped about 9 percent from last year, said Fair Association spokeswoman Toni Marie Swats. Last year, 16,362 people attended. This year, 14,759 people attended.

"We were trying to figure out why the figures were down," Swats said. "We think it was because people were coming and doing more and staying longer."

A number of people sat and watched midway shows such as the Kent Family Magic Circus, she said.

There was even some unscripted entertainment Saturday night when a flash mob of about 20 kids showed up and danced in front of the fairgrounds offices, Swats said.

"We got lots of compliments," said Carmen Haack, the vice chair of the fair committee.

Haack said a number of people stopped by the Fair Association's booth over the weekend to tell her how much they liked the variety and increased number of vendors.

 

NICOLETTE WOOD/Miner
The fair also had a good number of exhibits from the community, and the 4-H and Future Farmer's of America auctions got good results, she said.

One vendor, Desert Metal Works, sold out of a metal sculpture of the Monster drink logo and had to go home to make more, Swats said. A number of vendors had already made enough to cover the cost of their booths by Friday evening.

The committee is already working on plans for next year's fair.

"We like to get more people involved," she said. "We especially want more people to enter exhibits."

They're also working on plans to better handle the parking situation, Haack said.

The parking lot was nearly full Friday and Saturday nights and the line to get in stretched down Motor Avenue and Fairgrounds Boulevard.

Staff had to open the gate near Detroit Avenue for overflow parking.

The only other incidents the fair committee had to deal with were the theft of the metal from one of the older sets of bleachers before the fair, Swats said, and a grounds crew worker who suffered from dehydration and had to be taken to the hospital. The worker is doing fine now, she said.

 



Kelly Miller Circus Performance in Round Lake Beach

 

Kelly Miller Circus – Round Lake Beach

By Gene Carey

From: roundlakeareanews.com

September 14th, 2012

In case you were unable to attend the one-day Kelly Miller Circus when they were in Round Lake Beach on September 10th, I have put together a 20 minute video to give you an idea of the fun you missed. There were two shows scheduled, one at 4:30 which I thought would have a low attendance with parents still at work, and the second at 7:30 PM. Was I ever mistaken about a small crowd showing up early! As you will see in the video there were hardly any empty seats as kids, parents, and grandparents came to enjoy the circus.

I found an empty seat in the front row but only stayed about twenty minutes so that others could have the seat and watch the show. Outside I saw several elephants ready to perform as well as pony rides for before and after the main shows. If you like to see tigers, camels, zebras, clowns, trapeze artists, and pirates perform, you will need to watch the entire video. ENJOY!

Cheetah Hunt on-ride Cheetah Cam with Orlando Attractions Magazine

Uploaded by AttractionsMagazine on May 25, 2011

Visit http://AttractionsMagazine.com for more information.

A full point-of-view ride-through of the new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Florida. Cheetah Hunt and Cheetah run animal exhibit open to the public on May 27, 2011.

Step Right Up! It's Circus Time Once Again in Elmhurst
The Kelly Miller Circus is bringing its traveling show back to Elmhurst this Friday.

File photo: Special Kids Day families and other locals file in last September to watch Becky the elephant raise the big top tent for the Kelly Miller Circus at Sandburg. Credit Karen Chadra
From:  elmhiurst.patch.com
September 18, 2012
Kelly Miller Circus has been providing family entertainment since 1938—nearly three-quarters of a century. And as has been tradition in Elmhurst for many years, the circus is headed back to Sandburg Middle School this weekend, on Friday, Sept. 21.

The event, sponsored by the Elmhurst District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence, will be held under the traditional, old-fashioned big top tent and will feature acrobats, clowns, elephants, tigers and a cast of circus stars.

Shows will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, rain or shine, on the Sandburg grounds, 345 E. St. Charles Road.

Advanced tickets are $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 2 to 11, and can be purchased through Thursday, Sept. 20, at Shoe Carnival, Runner's Soul, NuCara/Vallette Pharmacy and Elmhurst Photo Boutique. Or, purchase tickets online at www.elmurst205.org/kmc. Groups of 12 or more can receive a discounted rate by calling the foundation office at (630) 617-2376.

Tickets also will be available at the gate on Friday for $16 for adults, $10 for kids.

 

File photo: Kids wait patiently for the official tent raising at Sandburg Middle School last September. Credit Karen Chadra

This is the third year the foundation, Kelly Miller and the Special Kids Day organization have worked together to present a unique performance for children with special needs and their families, free of charge.

"Many of these children are not able to comfortably attend or enjoy a live performance, foundation board member Jill Riecker said. "So, this brings elements of the show to them in a way that is not intimidating or overwhelming and gives them the opportunity to experience this unique tradition. For information or to RSVP for the Special Kids Day performance, call (630) 530-7700.

And, the fun starts early at the Friday morning as the elephants raise the tent at 8:45 a.m. Members of the community are invited to watch the animals up close and learn about the circus from the performers and trainers.

The tent seats 1,100 people, and the last row of seating is only 40 feet from the ring. Attendees can see performers' expressions and the audience can really connect with the performers.

Proceeds from the Kelly Miller Circus will benefit the District 205 Foundation, which provides instructional programs, educational grants and enhancements that benefit children at all Elmhurst District 205 schools.

For more information, visit the foundation's website. www.elmhurst205.org/foundation.

 

'Cars' coming to life - how the new 'Disney On Ice' vehicles were designed

 

It took about 2,000 man hours to make each of the Disney On Ice vehicles inspired by the animated movie 'Cars.' (Contributed photo)From:  al.com
By Matt Wake, The Huntsville Times
September 18, 2012
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- All Rick Papineau had to do was design a few 2,000-pound vehicles that could drive on ice, move their front bumpers like lips, blink headlights like eyes and otherwise look identical to the animated characters in Pixar's 2006 hit "Cars."

"It certainly was a big challenge," Papineau says. He's vice president of scenic elements at Hagenbeck-Wallace, a division of Feld Entertainment. "And not only did the cars need to be animated, they needed to have the personality of the movie characters."
You can experience the results of Papineau's labor in "Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy." The ice show also finds Mickey and Minnie Mouse transporting audiences to the worlds of "Toy Story 3," "Little Mermaid" and Tinker Bell.

Papineau's vehicles, which include "Cars" main characters Lightning McQueen and Mater, were outfitted with custom animatronics and hydraulic lifts that bounce to the show's music. Each of the six vehicles took about 2,000 man hours to create, but began as a pencil drawing in a sketch pad. As production moved to its physical stage, Papineau's team chose a golf cart chassis as their foundation and built upwards - but then had to rebuild the engine and frame because "you can't buy a golf cart that's strong enough."

Asked how much each Disney On Ice car cost to produce, Papineau declines to give an exact figure, only saying, “You probably couldn’t spend more at a luxury automobile dealership.” Even a Lamborghini dealership? “It’s in that neighborhood.”

Working closing with the sculptor who created the original vehicles for "Cars," Papineau also spent a lot of time pausing a DVD of the film to study details. "We can make anything look like it should. That's the easy part," he says.

Papineau has been with Feld for 33 years, and started off as a painter. In addition to Disney On Ice, the company also works extensively with Ringling Bros. Circus, and recently built a 25-foot long dragon that can "fly," flap its wings and breathe fire. Papineau builds his creations in a massive warehouse in Palmetto, Fla.

"When we built McQueen, it had a little motor we'd jazzed up and the first day I took it on a test drive it could do 40 mph," Papineau says. "But that's not going to do on a 100-foot rink of ice, so we limited the thrust control."

In addition, Papineau helped train the young Disney On Ice drivers -- most are around 18 years old -- who operate the cars, for five weeks in Lakeland, Fla., where the show opened.

"On opening night, I was scared to death," he says. "These things are huge and moving quite fast and intertwining, missing each other literally by a foot. I watched the show from the middle of the audience, just regular seats, and although it's a kid's show, you know who was yelling and pointing at the cars the most? All the fathers."

"Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy"
When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday;
1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Von Braun Center (700 Monroe St.)
How much: $40, $32, $24, $18 and $12
Details: 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com, disneyonice.com

Oddchester: Old-school circus leaves them laughing
By Steve Lang
From: postbulletin.com
Sep 18, 2012
Rochester, MN--Every year for the past dozen, since we moved from Michigan to Minnesota, we’ve made the involuntary summer stop in Wisconsin Dells.

I say “involuntary” because, when faced with any barrage of billboards advertising tourist traps and kitschy attractions, I can’t keep myself from stopping.

It’s an addiction, probably hardwired in my brain. For heroin addicts, the brain’s pleasure center experiences a surge of ecstasy — a warm flushing of the skin, euphoric but clouded mental functions — at the first sign of heroin.

For me, it’s the first sign advertising "Alligator Alley!" or "The Lost Voyage Haunted Boat Tour!"

By billboard three — an ad for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum! — I’m yelling, “Oh my god, Lindy, I’m experiencing a warm flushing of my skin and my mental functions are euphoric but clouded!”

So we stop in the Dells.

We tour our standards, such as the Original Wisconsin Ducks (the amphibious World War II vehicles) and the Wisconsin Deer Park (where our kids — and I should be embarrassed to admit this — hold wafers in their teeth and let deer eat them).

But this year we decide to visit something we’ve never visited, something old-school, something historical, something we have free tickets to see.

We decide to visit Circus World, a 50-acre complex that features circus acts set on the spot where the Ringling Bros. Circus was founded in 1884.

Circuses, it seems, have become very generational.

My kids — ages 13, 10, and 5 — have never been to an old-school circus.

And, if my parents are any indication, their generation is not terribly familiar with the new breed of circus-type acts such as Cirque du Soleil, which focuses on acrobatics.

When my family and I were in Michigan recently, we celebrated my stepmom’s birthday. My little sister, trying to outgift the rest of us by being creative, bought my parents tickets to some touring Cirque du Soleil knockoff.

My stepmom looked at the tickets for a long time. She said “You bought your father and I tickets to the circus? Are we taking the grandkids?”

“No,” Lori explained. “It’s like Cirque du Soleil.”

“Your father and I are going to the circus by ourselves?”

The event was slated for an intimate theater, and my dad wondered aloud how they’d possibly get elephants onto such a small stage. He was concerned about the structural soundness.
read the rest of the story at:
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1508649


This Week at the Fair
Heat's down and the big shows continue. Been yet?

 


The LA County Fair heads into its third week, complete with cooler temps. The Pomona extravaganza wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 30.
By Alysia Gray Painter
From:  nbclosangeles.com
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012
Did you make the Los Angeles County Fair this past Saturday? Sept. 15?

If so we raise a high five in your general direction; it was, in fact, one of the hottest days of the year, if not one of the hottest days of any year. You might have known this from a) your general sweaty state b) the fact that it was all anyone could talk about and c) all of the above.

But autumn is poking its head back into September, meaning that a day out under the sun at Pomona's annual spectacular might be in order, if you decided to forgo the heat last weekend.

If so, you've chosen a fine week to hit the fair. It is, in fact, week three, meaning time is a-dwindlin'; the country's largest county fair wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Happening this week? The concerts are new: Boyz II Men and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds start things off on Thursday, Sept. 20. WAR is on Friday, Sept. 21, an Old School Jam takes the stage on Saturday, Sept. 22 -- Rose Royce, Heatwave, Evelyn "Champagne" King, and Lenny Williams will perform -- and the Pistol Annies round out the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 23.

As always, the ongoing going events and happenings will be drawing the crowds: Mojo's Safari Show, beer tastings, the Pirate's Parrot Show, and the Aerial Arts Circus Show are just four of the dozens of daily to-dos.

Again, we say it: temps will be significantly lower than last weekend. Want to avoid last-weekend crowds? Hit the second to last Saturday and Sunday.


Flying Wallendas, Hilby-Skinny Juggling German Boy At Guilford Fair Coming Up This Weekend!
 Don't miss out on all the fun September 21, 22 and 23 at the Guilford Fairgrounds off Lover's Lane!


The Flying Wallendas.
Credit Pem McNerney 
By Fay Abrahamsson
From:  madison-ct.patch
September 18, 2012
The 2012 Guilford Fair has something for everyone: live bands and musical artists, circus animals, trapeze acts, equestrian acrobatics, an Elvis impersonator, tractor pulls, a children’s zoo, juggling acts, games and rides, food, contests and much, much more.
The 153th Annual Fair will be held the weekend of Sept. 21-23 at the fairgrounds at the corner of Lover’s Lane and Stone House Lane in Guilford.
First Class Entertainment Every Day
Love and Theft, an Academy of Country Music nominated duo of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson will be performing Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8pm. Their hits include songs such as “She’s Amazing,” “Amen,” and “Angel Eyes.” Their music has been compared to the likes of Roy Orbison, Eagles and Elvis Presley.
The Flying Wallendas will perform their death-defying acrobatic and tight-rope thrill shows again this year.  Since 1922, this family has been performing breathtaking acts all over the world.  Starting in Germany in 1905, the Great Wallendas were headliners with the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus during much of the 1930s and 1940s. Now the grandchildren perform the same acts for new audiences. This is a show not to be missed!
The Truck Stop Troubadours is a Massachusetts-based band who will entertain fair-goers with their versions of classic outlaw country sound, Rockabilly and Americana tunes.
Hilby-Skinny Juggling German Boy is a hilarious act not to be missed.  The once boy (now an adult) performs a one-man show of juggling, balancing stunts, ropewalking, unicycling and so much more. He’s known for getting his audience involved in his stunts so be aware!
Other attractions include animals, large equipment pulls and so much more. Don’t forget to allow plenty of time to visit all the barnyard animals at their special exhibit. Winning apples pies, crafts, jams and jellies will be on display, too. An ox and horse pull and antique tractor pull will delight all ages, and don’t forget the food court, games, and amusement park rides.
Dates and Times The Guilford Fair will be held
•Friday, Sept. 21 from 1pm – 11pm;
•Saturday, Sept. 22 from 9am – 11pm;
•and Sunday, Sept. 23 from 9am – 7pm.
Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for children ages 6-11; and free for children 5 years old and under. There is a special three-day discount pass available for $25.
Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle. There will be free off-site shuttle buses available at Exit 57 off I-95 all three days of the fair.
 

 

A journey into circus past

 

Big Apple Circus
from:  washingtonexaminer.com
by:  Emily Cary, Special to
The Washington Examiner
September 17, 2012
Yesteryear comes alive again with the arrival of Legendarium, the world premiere of the latest Big Apple Circus extravaganza. It promises a vicarious trip to the golden age of circuses, when the circus coming to town was the most exciting event of the year.

West Hyler, the director of Big Apple Circus, comes to his role from a theatrical background, most recently as associate director on Broadway for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Jersey Boys."

"The circus traces its beginning back to England in the 1700s," he said. "It began with trick riding. That's where we get the phrases 'dog and pony show' and 'one-horse show.' At that time, the circus ring was designed to be 42 feet in diameter because that was the distance a horse had to travel to reach a full gallop. The size remains exactly the same today.

"The circus has contributed to culture in many ways. When the Brooklyn Bridge was built, its towers were the highest man-made objects. People were afraid to walk across it for fear the concrete would crumble, but when they saw 21 circus elephants march across, they decided it was safe."
Legendarium boasts unified design relating to the finest circuses of the past. The acts are performed to songs by Stephen Foster, Sousa marches and folk songs, popular music drawn from that period. The lighting is designed by the Tony Award winner Howell Binkley of "Jersey Boys."

Hyler looked at acts around the world to find the very best performers. In China he found the Dalian Acrobatic Troupe performing on bicycles and Zhang Fan, who balances on a swaying slack wire. The powerful Quinterion Troupe from Budapest, Hungary executes extraordinary feats involving great risks

"I'm going back to the circus roots with a traditional horse act," she said. ""The children in the audience can see everything because no seat is further than 50 feet from the ring. They may have a little dirt in their laps when the horses gallop, but they don't mind.

"I've always loved all animals.. Different animals require different approaches and training. To prevent them from becoming frightened the first time around the circus, I go through the rehearsals with lights, music and without an audience so they won't be intimidated. The first week of a show may not be perfect, but they learn quickly. I love everything about circus life because of the people, the traveling and that it's never a 9 to 5 job. There's always a smile on my face because I'm passionate about what I do."

If you go
Big Apple Circus
Where: Dulles Town Center, 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Dulles
When: Thursday to Oct. 8
Info: Tickets start at $25; 888-541-3750

 

FAMILIAR FACES

FROM THE PAGES OF FACEBOOK

 

Lis Loyal on Great American Family Circus

The Vidbel Ladies with John Kennedy Kane

Angela Martin and Kim Sue Valla Royal Hanneford Circus at the York Fair

Crash Mareau with Vincent at the York Fair

 

Kim Sue Valla and Casey Cassell.

Cat Sneaks Onto Disney World Vacation; Survives 10 Hours in Luggage Bag

Published on Sep 15, 2012 by ABCNews

Owner finds cat in luggage on trip to famous amusement park.

Cirque biggest thing at Expo since Cher
Cirque du Soleil's 'Dralion' just fits Landon Arena, manager says

 

 

DANIEL DEMARAIS/CIRQUE DU SOLEIL-

In Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion," aerialists bounce off trampolines using the futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad. The show will play seven performances Dec. 5-9 in Landon Arena at the Kansas Expocentre.
By Bill Blankenship
From:The Topeka Capitol-Journal.com
September 16, 2012 -
Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion" is such a massive show, it was almost too big for Landon Arena, said Kansas Expocentre general manager H.R. Cook.

"This thing barely fits in the arena," Cook said of the production that will play seven performances Dec. 5-9. Tickets are on sale in person at the Expocentre box office and through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com and its retail outlets.

The set of "Dralion" is 60 feet wide and 26 feet tall and is suggestive of a futuristic Chinese temple as the show fuses the Canadian entertainment company's  avant-garde approach with ancient Chinese circus tradition.
Suspended high above the stage are three concentric aluminum rings.

The first serves as a catwalk for performers and technicians. The second is used to support technical and acrobatic equipment, including the enormous lantern that descends at the end of the first half of the show. The third ring is used to move performers up, down and through the world of "Dralion."

Because of the size and weight of this setup, Cook said assessment and preparations for Cirque du Soleil's first Topeka performance began about eight months ago.

"Because the show is so big and has so much stuff and they have to hang so much weight from our ceiling, we were bringing in structural engineers to look at the weight loads of the beams in our ceilings," Cook said.

The electrical capacity of the arena also was accessed to make certain it could handle the show's lighting, sound and mechanical needs.

The Expocentre also had to beef up its fall-protection system to assure the safety of all the people who will be high above the arena floor rigging all those electrical lines, cables, lights and speakers.

"If it had been one truck bigger, it probably wouldn't have fit," said Cook.
read more:
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-09-16/cirque-biggest-thing-expo-cher