THE BALLOON MAN

Big top to land in Marshalltown
Circus will be Sunday and Monday

 

The Carson & Barnes Circus will be in Marshalltown for four shows Sunday and Monday at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds. Shows will be at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday and 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday.
June 14, 2012
By ANDREW POTTER - Staff Writer (apotter@timesrepublican.com) , Times-Republican
When the big top comes to town a big show is sure to follow.

That's what organizers of the Carson & Barnes Circus are promising as it lands in Marshalltown Sunday and Monday at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds.

There will be a total of four shows with 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. shows on Sunday and 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m shows on Monday.

"It's a real, traditional American circus with elephants and performing dogs, horses and the flying trapeze," Barbara Miller-Byrd, the third generation owner of the circus, said. "It's a complete two-hour show."

The traveling group includes 70 animals and more than 100 people who join together to put on the show.

"We have a variety in the show that will appeal to children of all ages - from 2 to 102," Miller-Byrd said.

Among the animals at the show will be three big elephants, two camels and several dogs that tend to grab the attention of the younger members of the crowd. The highwire acts typically draw the most gasps from the crowd, Miller-Byrd said.

The circus puts on shows in 240 towns a year. It will be in Washington, Iowa on Saturday then loads up and heads, with its 50 vehicles, for two days of shows in Marshalltown.

"It's a pretty well-oiled machine," Miller-Byrd said.

Tickets are $16 for adults and $8 for children at the gate the day of the show. There are also discounted tickets available via downloaded coupons from www.bigtopshow.com.