CIRCUS DAYS.

At the beginning of summer, the Carden International Circus worked with the Zor Shrine Temple to put on a performance in Janesville, Wisconsin.

The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus have also been touring the State Line, and on August 10 had a muddy lot in Richland Center and a large turnout of children of all ages to entertain.

The training thunderstorms that caused a great deal of havoc in Milwaukee and drenched the interstate highways in the Rockford area mostly went to the southeast, thus the people of Richland County weren't worrying about flooded basements.

Before the show, the pony ride and bounce house did their business.

Part of the pre-show publicity included a coloring contest, here a youngster takes his prize and his drawing home with him.  Long after that balloon animal deflates and the drawing fades on the refrigerator, may he recall Circus Day.

As long as there are acrobats, aerialists, and jugglers, there will be circus.

Old-school sideshow acts still thrill.

Come Sunday, August 25, the troupe had performed in north central and eastern Wisconsin and were making their way toward Missouri by way of Leland, Illinois, where the circus partnered with a civic booster organization to raise money for fireworks.  Yes, the small platoons are still at work: many small town fireworks displays are the work of fund-raisers.

It's a much more pleasant morning, in fact there is a hint of fall in the air, and right on time.  School starts, that blue norther blows, the temperature struggles to get to 70 (or 20 in Canada) and you know what's coming, perhaps by Hallowe'en.

The Wheel of Destiny breaks down to ride in the pickup truck that also hauls the Perez Duo travel trailer.

The mule, horse, and ponies for the ride crop the footie pitch.  The bounce house is yet to be unrolled.  The main grandstand trailer will be rolled under the Big Top once the Big Top is up.

Here it goes up, and the morning tour of the show grounds that is a Culpepper and Merriweather feature is under way.

Here is a young Champagne Lion who has not yet revealed to his trainers what sorts of tricks he might be encouraged to perform in the arena.

Soon the midway will be ready to receive early-arriving spectators.

Find yourself a circus and go to it.