THE BALLOON MAN

Circus Vargas comes to town - without animals

Circus tents from Circus Vargas have gone up at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance Tuesday. The new circus has no animals in the show. (Sean Hiller / Staff Photographer)
By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer
11/03/2010

By Tuesday afternoon, the blue-and-yellow Big Top was raised and the cotton candy stand was assembled on the parking lot of the Del Amo Fashion Center.

Still, there was something missing - something like the circus mainstays of lions, tigers and elephants.

This year marks Circus Vargas' first show without any animals - none. It's a culmination of the new management's efforts over the past several years to phase out first exotic animals and finally even the horses and dogs in the show.

"Every year we try to change the show and this year the show we envisioned didn't fit with the animals," said Katya Quiroga, who owns Circus Vargas with her husband.

Protests from animal welfare groups have dogged circuses for years, although Quiroga said the animal-free show this year reflects a conceptual change in direction.
READ MORE AT:http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_16504458

Circus Vargas sets up camp at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance Tuesday. (Sean Hiller / Staff Photographer)

Want to go?
What: Circus Vargas, an all-new show with no animals

Where: Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Nov. 4-15; Ports O' Call Village in San Pedro, Nov. 17-21

When: Opening night 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Torrance

Information: www.circusvargas.org; 877-468-3861