CARSON & BARNES CIRCUS

Big top over Pampa

 

The circus is coming to town
Billed as “the world’s biggest big-top show,” the Carson & Barnes Circus will be in Pampa for two shows on May 4.
from: thepempasnews.com
By Timothy P. Howsare
April 27, 2013
The big top is coming to Pampa.
The Carson & Barnes Circus of Hugo, Okla., will do two big-top shows at 2 and 5 p.m. on May 4 at Recreation Park.
The shows will feature clowns, jugglers, elephants, acrobats — everything you expect from a big-top circus.
There will be elephant rides, camel rides and pony rides.
School children can experience the magic of the circus and meet the animals up close and personal before the scheduled performances.
Starting at 9:30 a.m., any school group or anyone from the public can show up when the circus folks start rolling out the canvas, said Charles Watson, advance coordinator for Carson & Barnes.
There will be a free petting zoo, and clowns will be entertaining as people walk in, he said.
Though he works behind a desk on most days, Watson himself is a juggler and a clown.
“I’m a first-generation performer,” he said. “I’m the only one in my family in the circus. When I have kids they will be second-generation.”
Watson said this is his first year with Carson & Barnes, working his way up from smaller circuses.
By calling ahead, school groups can have a staff member from the circus meet them and lead them through the animal compound. This will be followed by an educational program about Asian elephants, which are endangered.
Included with the program is a special visit by “Melvino the Clown,” who will entertain with a short comedy skit.