We went with Ray & Myrna, not knowing what to expect. It turns out that the circus was being held in a large building on the Ex Grounds, that could probably hold about 2000 - 4000 patrons if all the seats were full. We waited in line to get the rush seats and as I walked in it was apparent this was not the Shrine Circus of my childhood. The seats were portable bleachers, and the souvenirs were not like I recall having as a child. There were no programs for kids to have signed by clowns, and no Shrine specific merchandise... We got Teresa a clown head pen and I bought a raffle ticket along with the snacks we bought. I should also add that a very generous Shriner gave us some food tickets so we got a free popcorn. I am sure that Teresa did not think this a small circus, but it just felt smaller to me, without the elephants and lions of old...
Teresa's Pen
The circus itself had some major highlights with a great clown bit from a diving board and a really enjoyable balancing act... I love the circus and I know that Teresa and Frances really seemed to enjoy it...
Waiting in line on the way in...
Keeping calm by picking dandelions...
Pony rides? $8? It's the circus, so of course! (I just wish it were still elephants...)
My favorite (and least PC part) of the Shriner procession, the oriental band. Sadly they were down to 6 members.
The clowns! If I were ever to be a Shriner, this is what I would be... Of course it has nothing to do with Andrea being scared of them, just that they were awesome (ps for those wondering I did NOT see Popcorn there)
Teresa told Cara that Rowdy could do all the tricks because he was a very good dog.
Sitting on the bleachers with mommy
Grandma & Frances - the girls did well but were done after 2.5 hours, and the show went for 3. Thanks also go out to Ray & Myrna for buying the tickets,
Did I mention I love the circus? There are few times that I reminisce and think back to my childhood. The circus is one of them, and I truly cherish the memories. I miss those days where we visited the green house and then had treats and souvenirs then get autographs from the clowns...
The funny & enjoyable 'diving' act...
I thought for sure he was going to fall...
Perhaps I am getting overly sentimental and over-thinking such things but my dad tells me of the days when the Shriners parade was eons long and nowadays it was at most 100 people (my count was 65-70ish). It worries me that service organizations are slowly disappearing...
ps: Congrats go out to Warren & Lindsay along with Kris & Susan who both had beautiful baby girls over the weekend (Ingrid & Anika respectively :). Yay to friends having kids! Next up: Ryan & Lisanne in June!!
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3 comments:
No clown autographs? What is this world coming to?
BTW, Dad says that Gerry has cut back a lot on his "Popcorn" activities, so maybe that explains his absence...?
The circus had hundreds of Shriners parading when I was young. The Oriental band and the pipers both had about 50 and the drum and bugle corps was the biggest and loudest band of all. There were dozens of clowns, the motor patrol etc. I was really saddened when I learned you had to be a Protestant to become a Shriner.
Of course, the acts were better too - the Flying Wallendas - and the food was better and the souvenirs were better.
Oh well, there's still magic for little kids.
Dad
The 2011 Shrine Circus was just last night in the Sarnia Sting arena. I really love that circus, and yes, especially the diving board show. But the wierd thing is that I saw popcorn and my brother got to ride on an elephant for 10 dollars. Also, I saw no clowns, but if you insist that the diving board guy was a clown, and I didn't see his face very well, which I didn't then OK.
I can not wait for the 2012 Shrine Circus - especially if the diving board guy is back!
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