MASON CITY SHRINE CIRCUS

A memorable day at the circus



JEFF HEINZ/The Globe Gazette
Hayden Burma of Crystal Lake enjoys a ride on a camel before the first performance of the Shrine Circus Saturday at the North Iowa Events Center. After Hyden was finished with the camel ride he said he wanted to "ride the tiger."
from: globegazette.com
By MARY PIEPER
May 11, 2013
MASON CITY — Hayden Burma, 3, of Crystal Lake, went to the circus for the first time Saturday in Mason City.
It was also the first time at the circus for his grandmother, Shirley Burma, also of Crystal Lake.
“I can scratch that off my bucket list now, can’t I?” Shirley said with a smile.
Hayden’s parents, Nick and Patti Burma and his sister, Hannah Hamilton, 15, all of Crystal Lake, also were at the Shrine Circus at the North Iowa Events Center Saturday.
Before the show, the children had the chance to ride ponies, a camel and even an elephant.
Even though Hayden had “never seen anything bigger than a cat or dog before,” as his grandma put it, he
 was up for all of it
.
JEFF HEINZ/The Globe Gazette

Hayden Burma of Crystal Lake enjoys a pony ride prior to the first performance of the Shrine Circus at the North Iowa Events Center on Saturday. With Hayden is his sister, Hannah Hamilton.
“Look at that smile!” Patti said as Hayden rode a pony while his big sister walked alongside him.
He later rode the camel.
“That’s so cute!” Shirley said as she watched him.
“He had his mind up he was going to ride on anything and he’s doing it,” she said.
“He wasn’t scared at all,” Nick said.
Hayden is a fan of the children’s animated TV show “Calliou.”
 

JEFF HEINZ/The Globe Gazette

Kaylynn Krueger of Mason City isn't so sure about the pony rides before the first performance of the Shrine Circus Saturday at the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City.
“Calliou rode a camel one day and so he (Hayden) wanted to ride a camel,” Patti said.
After he was done with the camel ride, Hayden said, “I want to ride the tiger now.”
The rest of the family told him that wouldn’t be such a good idea, and maybe he should ride the elephant instead.
Patti said for her going to the circus is all about “watching the kids, the look on their faces.
“It’s just nice watching them experience something for the first time.”
The Shrine Circus continues today in the All Seasons Building at the North Iowa Events Center.
Performances are at 1 and 5 p.m., with the pre-party that includes animal rides beginning one hour before each show.