THE BALLOON MAN

Kaaba Shrine circus offers family entertainment

A clown performs during the Kaaba Shrine Circus at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.
(Jeff Cook/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Steve Martin,
July 2, 2011
Davenport, Iowa Twelve-year-old Brandon Stewart of Davenport got a big hug Saturday at the Kaaba Shrine circus — from a 10½-foot-long albino Burmese python.
Among the many attractions at the circus was the snake, which was available for photo opportunities. Brandon stood with the huge reptile draped over his shoulders as his photo was taken.
“I could feel him squeezing my neck,” the youngster said.
The boy and his father, Robert Stewart, were among hundreds of people who showed up for the first of three shows performed Saturday by the George Carden International Circus.
Additional shows are scheduled for 1 and 5 p.m. today at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport.
The circus helps fund the operations of the Kaaba Shrine in Davenport, which makes it possible for members to hold other fundraising activities that help support the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago, St. Louis and Minneapolis, said David Klein, the circus chairman for Kaaba Shrine.
“If we don’t have a Shrine circus, we don’t have any hospitals,” he said.
Robert Stewart said he had been very busy lately with work and going to school, so he decided to take his son to the circus to allow them to have some time together.
In addition to his close encounter with the python, Brandon said he enjoyed taking a ride on an elephant before the circus began as well as the performance of BMX rider Karoly Zeman.
Jim and Angy Hammes of Blue Grass said they thought the weather was nice enough Saturday to bring their 6-year-old grandson, Jack Hammes of Bettendorf, to the circus.
Jack said he also enjoyed riding the elephant, even though it was “scratchy,” and also had a good time watching the performing dogs and high-wire entertainers. Read more: http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_a206a812-a4f7-11e0-b994-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1R2mZhXV6