THE BALLOON MAN

Cañon City: Al Kaly Shriner Circus a crowd pleaser


 

Motorcycle Madness Ghostriders perform high above the crowd Sunday during theShrine Circus. (Charlotte Burrous/Daily Record)
By CHARLOTTE BURROUS
canoncitydailyrecord
05/21/2012
High-flying acts, death-defying performers and animals that stole the show entertained crowds Sunday during the Al Kaly Shriner Circus at the Cañon City Rodeo Grounds. Debbie Smith attended with her daughter, Diana Colson, along with her grandchildren, Molly and Megan Colson, and Molly's friend, Maddison Baker.
"It's one of the best I've seen," Smith said. "I liked the motorcycles and the tigers. Those are really different acts."

She said she also liked it because the ringmaster kept the children engaged while they were setting up new acts.

Maddison said she enjoyed the animals.

"I liked the dog show," she said.

It was different from Molly.

"I liked the elephants and acrobats," she said.

Megan also liked the animals.

"I liked the tigers," she said.

For Diana, she enjoyed the family outing.

"I just like to see the joy that it brings to the children," she said.

Smith said she enjoyed seeing the circus acts out in the open rather than under a big tent.

"It really is an event to take our grandchildren to," she said.

It was similar for Sandra and Michael Stall, who also brought their granddaughters, Layla Stall and Elonna Martinez, to the circus.

"We haven't seen a circus for awhile," Sandra said. "The best part of this circus is watching all the entertainment, and the kids love the clowns. It's a great place for the kids to come, relax and have fun."

Michael agreed.

"It's nice to get out sometime," he said.

Elonna said she liked the tigers the best while Layla enjoyed dancing to the music.

This is the first time for Kayla Sears to attend a circus for awhile.

"It's actually really different than it used to be," she said. "I like it. The baby (9-month-old Austin) likes it, too."

The circus wowed Heather Bell, her daughter, Jalynne, 3, and Tara Toelle and her son, Gage Avila, 3.

Gage said he liked the animals while it was the tigers for Jalynne.

The four of them said they liked the motorcyclist, who rode his motorcycle on a high wire with two trapeze artists performing underneath the wire.

Resident Mary Anthony said the circus is something she never misses.

"I love the circus," she said. "It's beautiful. It seems to me there are more stuff this time than before. I try to come every year."

She said the circus is one of the highlights of the year for her.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Anthony said. "I'm just like a kid. I just enjoy the animals and people."