THE BALLOON MAN

Circus coming back to Lake George
by DON LEHMAN
from: poststar.com
Dec 11, 2012
LAKE GEORGE -- The Big Apple Circus is coming back to the village for a second summer, and has indicated it will seek a third engagement in 2014.

The circus, which had a two-week run at the former Gaslight Village property last July, has submitted a contract proposal to the village of Lake George and Warren County, seeking to use the same parcel again next July 13-28. The Gaslight Village park operations and management committee endorsed the proposal on Monday.

Mayor Bob Blais said the contract proposal is the same as the one agreed upon last summer, under which the circus paid $8,000 rent for the Gaslight property, then received $8,000 in occupancy tax funds from the town and village of Lake George and $15,000 from the county to pay for expenses, such as water hookups and sewage disposal.

Blais said attendance last summer wasn’t as good as the circus organizers had hoped, but the company believes in taking three years in a market to see if it is willing to commit long-term. Construction around the Gaslight Village site did not help, Blais said.

Phil Thurston, a spokesman for the New York City-based circus, said the organization was “happy with our run in Lake George” and was hopeful for a return.

“The welcome from the community has been outstanding,” Thurston said.

The circus, which brings a big top from location to location throughout the year, completely changes its show each year.

Officials said the municipalities and circus agreement in December should help its run next summer.

Michael Consuelo, president of the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, said the deal comes two months earlier this time around, and that will allow for more promotion at travel events.

“This is an ideal opportunity to promote the circus during our early travel shows,” Consuelo said.

The return engagement was viewed as a good sign for the municipally owned “festival space” and county and Lake George leaders are hoping that the circus will become an annual summer fixture once the park is fully developed.

Plans are to put a playground, performance area, skate park and other attractions on the West Brook Road site.