THE BALLOON MAN

Circus comes to town with shows beginning today

For fans of tigers, elephants and acrobats, this week may be the best of the year. The 2011 Shrine Circus begins its three-day run at the Corn Palace in Mitchell tonight with a 7 p.m. show. Shows will take place at 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Children ride an elephant before the start of the show in this photo from last year’s Shrine Circus at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. This year’s circus begins with a show at 7 p.m. today and continues with more shows Wednesday and Thursday. (Republic File Photo)
By: Austin Kaus, The Daily Republic
April 19, 2011,
For fans of tigers, elephants and acrobats, this week may be the best of the year.
The 2011 Shrine Circus begins its three-day run at the Corn Palace in Mitchell tonight with a 7 p.m. show. Shows will take place at 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Steve Morgan, circus chairman for the Corn Palace Shrine Club, said the event is the “one and only” fundraiser for the local club. Money made from the event is used throughout the year for a variety of activities, including covering transportation costs for children going to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Morgan said the circus brings with it some changes this year. The traditional male animal trainer has been replaced by a female who will lead tigers and other animals in a cage this week.
For the younger fans, a BMX bike act has been added. The act, which also appeared last year, will feature some new additions.
Morgan said there is something for all ages.
“I hope they enjoy the circus this year,” Morgan said.
Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling said ticketing options are also changed this year to streamline the purchase process.
Tickets have previously been available at a variety of locations across the city, Schilling said. This year, tickets are exclusively available at the Corn Palace Box Office, which Schilling said makes ticket purchasing more efficient.
The $13 and $10 tickets are also available through the box office website at www.cornpalace.com.
“We’re just hoping that a lot of people will come out to the circus again this year,” Schilling said.