As the ringmaster directs the acts in the circus, the crowd gasps as the daredevil risks his life or is awestruck in the feats of the contortionist. The circus is a happy place, where families go to enjoy entertainment together and is a place which can make most anyone smile.
The circus is a place where fun and amazement abounds, where kids can be in awe while their parents enjoy watching the excitement on their child's face, but where the adults too, are often transported back to their youth and the memories of their first circus.
Jesse Medrano grew up in a circus family. He has performed as a clown and a daredevil, and now is promoting the Family Fun Circus which is coming to Arcola on May 6.
Explaining he goes from town to town to put up posters and talk to people about the upcoming shows, he feels lucky to be able to interact with everyone because he enjoys watching the reactions that come with telling people the circus is coming because they can go from stern faced to excited in a matter of seconds.
The Family Fun Circus, from Texas, is currently in its third year of touring Canada. After beginning in Ontario in January they have slowly worked their way west.
"It's a traditional circus without the animals," Medrano explained. "When I say traditional circus you think of elephants, tigers, lions, giraffes, when in reality a traditional circus has very few animal acts, maybe one or two and the rest is the performers."
However, the Family Fun Circus does have one animal act only it is in an unconventional sense.
"To the delight of the people in the area we will present them with the first artificial elephant in the circus!" Medrano exclaimed.
With many people concerned about the well being of animals, the Family Fun Circus has found a way to still deliver the animal act which he has seen light up children's faces.
Other performances include juggling, a contortionist, a daredevil, Yanko the Clown, and a talented magician.
"Zaira is our contortionist and she would be a young lady of about 15 and she has been doing this since she was eight," Medrano said.
"Johnny is the daredevil and he's been doing that since he was five. He's had a few accidents over the years, but he's alright, he's a daredevil."
These two will be joined by Yanko the Clown who has been touring in the Bahamas recently, while Brian LaPalme has been doing magic for 40 years. He is the ringmaster and has earned the nickname, Human Dragon, for his fire spitting abilities.
Advanced tickets will be sold in Carlyle at The Pearl Boutique and in Arcola at Chapman's. These are $15 for adults and $7 for children, with family passes available to include two children and two adults for $40 only available in advance, and a free child's ticket can also be found online or in the paper.
Tickets will also be available at the doors for $20 (adults) and $10 (child) with two performances, one at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.
"We understand that families have a high cost of living and to help we do have a child coupon on our webpage [Facebook: Family Fun Circus (entertainer)]that can be printed off or the ad in the paper can be cut out, so families can save that way," Medrano said.
Overall Medrano said that it is a circus show for all ages, that those from one-year-old to 99-years-old would not only marvel at the performances, but parents and grand-parents will be able to watch as smiles light up their children's faces.
"I'm on the front line and get to talk to people every day and the Canadian feedback I've gotten, everybody's very happy," Medrano explained. "There's something for the kids to do and with that same token the adults can be kids themselves again People say there's musicians, the theatre, dances to go to, but nothing for youth. There's T.V., movies, going to the park but there's not usually an event to bring the entire family to from children to parents to in-laws to grand-parents, everyone enjoys themselves and they enjoy watching each other."
"The circus is a place you can take everybody."
