THE BALLOON MAN

Circus brings entertainment to Sioux City families




By Nate Robson nrobson@siouxcityjournal.com
 Five-year-old Ricky Richardson-Nagel, front on camel, and Jaydon Blume ride a camel at the Abu-Bekr Shrine Circus at Sioux City's Tyson Event's Center Saturday.
By Nate Robson nrobson@siouxcityjournal.com 
Sioux City Journal  
Saturday, April 21, 2012 
SIOUX CITY -- Dancing Dogs, a trumpet-playing elephant and daredevils flirting with disaster were among the acts bringing smiles to children's faces at the Abu-Bekr Shrine Circus in Sioux City Saturday.


Hundreds of children screamed and cheered in delight as they watched dogs perform tricks, a dancing elephant play the trumpet and the ringmaster tempt fate as he walked and jumped along the outside of the Wheel of Destiny, a device that spun him high into the air above the crowd.


"Even if you don't like the circus, it's still fun to watch the kids have fun," said Casey Grillet, as 5-year-old Justin Grillet sat on his shoulders and watched several women twirl through the air during an aerial stunt show. "The kids want to come every year. They love it."


Patty Kann came with her children, Katie, 7, and Kyle, 3. Kann said the circus is an annual tradition for her family.


While Kann's children have their favorite circus acts -- Kyle repeatedly boasted about watching the motorcycle stunts -- not all of the shows were popular.


"He (Kyle) doesn't like clowns; that's why we are getting some food now," Kann said, as the 3-year-old hid his face behind an inflatable Spider-Man balloon. "When the clowns came out, he was clamoring over me saying it was time to go home."

By Nate Robson nrobson@siouxcityjournal.com
 A trainer puts a handkerchief at the end of an elephant's trunk during a performance at the Abu-Bekr Shrine Circus in Sioux City's Tyson Events Center Saturday.
In addition to cotton candy, popcorn and other concessions, flashing glow sticks and mohawk headbands were popular items with the children in attendance. The trinkets illuminated the stands in a sea of reds, whites and blues whenever the lights dimmed for an act.
The children and their parents also enjoyed dancing and clapping to music throughout the show.
Even though the children may have left with the biggest smiles and the most keepsakes, adults also left entertained.

 

By Nate Robson nrobson@siouxcityjournal.com
Joanne Johnson, left, makes cotton candy at the Abu-Bekr Shrine Circus in Sioux City Saturday.
In addition to cotton candy, popcorn and other concessions, flashing glow sticks and mohawk headbands were popular items with the children in attendance. The trinkets illuminated the stands in a sea of reds, whites and blues whenever the lights dimmed for an act.
Read more: http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/circus-brings-entertainment-to-sioux-city-families/article_281515ff-500c-56ad-a3f9-8cec5370d6ff.html#ixzz1slo4XUuZ