Traveling circus makes stop in Dell Rapids City Park
Culpepper & Merriweather troupe returns after four years away
Emily Spartz/Argus Leader Lana Dykes does a bird act during the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus in Dell Rapids City Park on Wednesday, July 6.
By Luke TatgeTribune Editor
July 11. 2011
Dell Rapids City, SD--Animals, acrobats and clown antics all joined under the big top to entertain children and adults July 6 at the city park in Dell Rapids.Culpepper & Merriweather, based out of Hugo, Okla., was begun in 1985 as a traveling showcase of performers and exotic animals.
Ticket taker and performer, Simone Dykes, who doubles as a trapeze artist, unicyclist and announcer for the show, said that the event had managed 152 advanced ticket sales for adults alone.
Dykes said that the children�s tickets are often bought in bulk by local businesses, and the circus troupe can muster up as many as 300 to 500 child�s tickets between pre-sale and sales at the door.
David �Stilts� Volponi has performed with the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus for 23 years.
He said the best part of working with the circus is interacting with people and seeing the happiness the show brings.
�The old time, big top circus is one of the oldest and truest forms of live entertainment,� he said.
Volponi also works with the circus�s public relations and concessions, along with his stilt performing.
Barb Klein of Dell Rapids and her grandson Ian Klein, 5, attended the 5 p.m. showing of the circus.
Ian was most excited for the clowns, because �they�re silly.� It was his first experience at a circus.
Barb Klein said she�d never seen Culpepper & Merriweather before, but she�d attended the Shriner�s Circus in the past.
Peggy Maxwell of Dell Rapids said she attends the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus every time it�s in town.
�It�s fun family entertainment,� she said.
Peggy�s favorite part of the circus is the acrobatic performers, while her daughter Carly Maxwell, 10, said the animals are her favorite.
Ticket taker and performer, Simone Dykes, who doubles as a trapeze artist, unicyclist and announcer for the show, said that the event had managed 152 advanced ticket sales for adults alone.
Dykes said that the children�s tickets are often bought in bulk by local businesses, and the circus troupe can muster up as many as 300 to 500 child�s tickets between pre-sale and sales at the door.
David �Stilts� Volponi has performed with the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus for 23 years.
He said the best part of working with the circus is interacting with people and seeing the happiness the show brings.
�The old time, big top circus is one of the oldest and truest forms of live entertainment,� he said.
Volponi also works with the circus�s public relations and concessions, along with his stilt performing.
Barb Klein of Dell Rapids and her grandson Ian Klein, 5, attended the 5 p.m. showing of the circus.
Ian was most excited for the clowns, because �they�re silly.� It was his first experience at a circus.
Barb Klein said she�d never seen Culpepper & Merriweather before, but she�d attended the Shriner�s Circus in the past.
Peggy Maxwell of Dell Rapids said she attends the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus every time it�s in town.
�It�s fun family entertainment,� she said.
Peggy�s favorite part of the circus is the acrobatic performers, while her daughter Carly Maxwell, 10, said the animals are her favorite.
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