THE BALLOON MAN

Hurray, it's the circus

Time to clown around

One camel checks out what the other is munching at the Baxter County Fairgrounds on Friday. The camels, along with other animals and performers are in town for the circus. / JOSH DOOLEY/THE BAXTER BULLETIN

Written by

Bulletin Staff

Apr 14, 2012

If you see a bunch of clowning around at the Baxter County Fairgrounds today, you can thank the Twin Lakes Shrine Club as they are responsible for the Kelly Miller Circus coming to Mountain Home.

More than 85 people with dozens of animals and vehicles pulled into the fairgrounds Friday morning and began setting up the circus. Animal corrals and tents went up quickly under a partly cloudy sky.

Those attending the shows, scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., can expect to see camels, zebras, dogs, tigers and elephants as well as acrobats, aerialists, clowns, Argentinian cowboys and pirates.

Workers unfold the big top at the Baxter County Fairgrounds on Friday in preparation to open the circus. JOSH DOOLEY/THE BAXTER BULLETIN

“The creative people get together and they talk about how to tell a story,” said aerialist Rebecca Ostroff. “There are no stars in this circus; we’re all part of the show.”

Ostroff has a bit of star power behind her as she appeared in the movie “Water for Elephants,” performing as an aerialist.

The circus will have the traditional elements people expect to see in a circus, according to ringmaster John Moss. The audience also will see things that might surprise them.

“They’re going to see everything they expect to see in a circus,” Moss said as workers put up the big top. “We like to have the traditional aspects of the circus and a theme we can explore through various acts.”

Tickets are $10 each for adults and $5 for children.