Circus heats up under big top
Grandma takes grandson to first circus
NICK ADAMS/The Register-Mail.Carson and Barnes Circus performers ride elephants into the tent during the second part of the show at Lake Storey Park on Thursday night.
By ERIN MCCARTHY The Register-Mail
Posted Sep 01, 2011
GALESBURG, IL — The moment Vicki Brooks of Abingdon saw a marquee at Hi-Lo Grocery advertising the Carson and Barnes Circus coming to Lake Storey, she knew exactly who she’d bring to see it.
Brooks said she attended several circuses throughout her childhood and wanted her grandson, 3-year-old Jeremiah Huxtable of Galesburg, to have the same experience.
They even arrived a half-hour early to the circus Thursday, so he could “soak it all in.” And seeing the ear-to-ear smile on wide-eyed Huxtable as he rode around on a pony, she knew she made the right move.
“This is his first time at the circus, and his first time on a horse,” said Brooks. “He’s really liking it.”
As soon as the pony ride was over, Huxtable took his grandmother by the hand and already had his mind set on the next adventure: the “C & B Train.”
And after that, he wanted to go on the inflatable, or what he called, “the bumpy thing,” but Brooks explained the show was about to begin, and they hadn’t even gone inside the gate, yet.
Huxtable was disappointed at first, until he saw what awaited him inside — camel and elephant rides, and a petting zoo. He took one camel ride and the pair entered the big top.
Brooks said she attended several circuses throughout her childhood and wanted her grandson, 3-year-old Jeremiah Huxtable of Galesburg, to have the same experience.
They even arrived a half-hour early to the circus Thursday, so he could “soak it all in.” And seeing the ear-to-ear smile on wide-eyed Huxtable as he rode around on a pony, she knew she made the right move.
“This is his first time at the circus, and his first time on a horse,” said Brooks. “He’s really liking it.”
As soon as the pony ride was over, Huxtable took his grandmother by the hand and already had his mind set on the next adventure: the “C & B Train.”
And after that, he wanted to go on the inflatable, or what he called, “the bumpy thing,” but Brooks explained the show was about to begin, and they hadn’t even gone inside the gate, yet.
Huxtable was disappointed at first, until he saw what awaited him inside — camel and elephant rides, and a petting zoo. He took one camel ride and the pair entered the big top.
Flipping in mid-air while blindfolded, Maurico jumps into the arms of Fabio during the Carson and Barnes Circus. The Galesburg Noon Lions Club brought the circus to town for two shows at Lake Storey Park.
In the moments before the circus began, Huxtable and his grandmother discussed what was about to happen.
“That’s where the animals will be, in that ring,” said Brooks.
“Like maybe a tiger?” asked Huxtable.
“Yep, maybe.”
In the 1 hour show that followed, Huxtable never did see a tiger, but he didn’t seem to notice among the excitement of elephants, camels, clowns, acrobats, aerialists, horses, jugglers, dogs, trick cyclists, tight-rope walkers, flying trapeze and more.
But the glitz, glam, big band music and stunts were no match for the heat of the tent. At intermission, the edges of Huxtable’s hair were damp with sweat, and the two walked out to the evening breeze, not to return for the second half.
Instead, seemingly having found his second wind, Huxtable took full reign of the attractions outside the tent, first bouncing around in the inflatable, then taking a second round on the train and finishing up at the petting zoo.
NICK ADAMS/The Register-Mail.
Clown Alex juggles Thursday during the Carson and Barnes Circus at Lake Storey Park
And Brooks was just happy to see her grandson enjoying himself.
“He was getting too hot in there,” she said as the music and applause could be heard coming from inside the tent. “And he just wants to do everything. He’s really liking absolutely everything.”
Huxtable confirmed his grandmother’s assumption. He said his favorite part was the train ride, but the “coolest part” of the circus was the camel — and the “grrrrr” noise they made.
“And the elephants,” he added to his list. “And the clowns were very funny. And I liked the horses, too.”
Just before calling it a night, Brooks again noted how much her grandson enjoyed the circus, and how happy she was to have been the first to take him.
“He’ll be talking about this for a long time,” she said. “I’m sure of it.”
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