Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up and buy your tickets because the Carson and Barnes Circus is coming to San Benito County for one night only Wednesday, June 16.
“It’s a great event for you to bring the whole family to,” Fairgrounds Manager Kelley Ferreira said.
The full program, complete with ferocious tigers and comical clowns, will have 16 separate five-ring displays, featuring more than 40 acts from the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Peru, Mexico, Italy and other parts of the world.
The American circus roots go back to equestrian exhibition more than 2,000 years ago, according to the Carson and Barnes web site. The circus keeps the tradition alive with one of its main acts. A parade of prancing horses from Holland will take the main floor and perform. This is the only act of its kind in the United States. Touring all over California for the next few weeks, the circus will set up the big top, hold the shows and head out of town the following morning.
“It’s really neat,” Ferreira said. “They get here the night before and by 7 a.m. the morning after the show the tents are gone.”
Along with the talented animals, the Carson and Barnes Circus is home to many well-rehearsed performers. One of the acts that plays tricks on the eyes is the hula-hoop acrobats. Performers will wow crowds as they juggle more than 20 hula hoops at a time.
Those who attend the circus will also be helping out another group of local acrobats – the Galaxy All-star Cheerleaders of Hollister. The organization, which has been around for three years and teaches children ages three to 18 how to dance, cheer and perform stunts, will receive 40 percent of the money from tickets purchased before the event. Tickets can be found at Gold’s Gym, Baler Market, Hollister Market and many other locations throughout the city. Coordinator Elizabeth Amarant said the organization relies on the community’s support to sponsor low income children in the program.
“We have 15 low income kids in the program because of sponsorship, so raising this money is the only way to keep them in,” she said.
The shows will begin at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19 at Bolado Park. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, log onto www.carsonbarnescircus.com.
