THE BALLOON MAN

Shrine Circus, carnival full of old-school charm


 

Clowns such as Bubba (Jerry Hardin) perform and sign autographs at the World s Largest Shrine Circus & Midway Carnival at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta 
By Jon Waterhouse For the AJC
from: acessatlanta.com
April 23, 2012
Flick on the multicolored midway lights, cue the boisterous and bouncy music, and send in the clowns
The fez-wearing philanthropists known as the Yaarab Shriners of Atlanta don’t simply throw a fundraiser, they pitch a spectacle. Now in its 70th year, the World’s Largest Shrine Circus & Midway Carnival should be down to a celebratory science with its sprawling spread of rides and attractions, and old-school circus charm.
The circus
Although the traditional sawdust-in-the-veins circus experience has largely given way to extravagant arena shows and the highbrow cirque style, the Shrine Circus manages to retain that classic spirit. It bursts to life underneath the covered rodeo-style arena at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. A total of 24 shows take place across 10 days. A circus parade drops daily, with big-top entertainers marching through the festival grounds with a bit of bygone-era procession. The acts themselves remain prototypical. Aerialists such as the Flying Preciados cut through the air above with the greatest of ease. Patricia Zerbini presents an array of trained elephants. The Ives Brothers rev up their motorcycles inside a massive steel ball, looping together within the confined space without bumping tires. Other performances tap that soft spot in our circus psyche, including dancing bears, jugglers, choreographed horses and trapeze artists. Each show lasts approximately 90 minutes. If you miss the beginning, don’t cry in your cotton candy. Guests can attend as many shows in a day as they wish.
READ MORE AT:
http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/shrine-circus-carnival-full-1424302.html