the circus is coming to town!

It was not until my mother-in-law mentioned that our niece would go to the parade then make her way to the wedding that I realized it was time already for the circus.

When the kids were little we would make our way to Main street and Benton and would find a place to sit among the crowd of people there for the same reason we were.
For some years now, people have put cords around their lawns so their families could at least enjoy the benefits of being on the parade's path. Many people come early knowing that there won't be room for long.

This year is special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the amateur circus.

People come to Peru from all over and the young performers, all amateurs, have been preparing for several months.
Last year there was some questions as to whether they would be able to perform indoors as the furniture store adjacent to the circus building caught on fire and was completely destroyed.

It would have been a shame as the building is now air conditioned, to the great relief of the artists as well as the spectators.
Indiana summers are hot and humid and I don't imagine that practicing and performing in this heat is not the most pleasant. Yet it was not so long ago that the performances were still held without modern comforts.

The Peru Circus City Festival always coincided with our boys' Baseball All-Star tourneys so we would rarely have time to do much more than go to the midway and enjoy the rides, eat a tiger ear (called elephant ear anywhere else in the states), walk about and then walk on home.
Bruce's favorite ride was the bullet. I preferred watching from the ground as he took each one of the kids with him. They loved as much as he did!

What is really special about the Peru Circus is that the young performers often return to train the next generation of artists.
I recognized a few names from the list found online.
Some of their acts are very professional for amateurs!
In the past they have had some kids travel to Monte Carlo (Monaco) to compete with other countries and placed high.

Yes, it is a pretty exciting time of year for many. I can't help but compare it to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon after long preparations.

Circus weeks ends on a Saturday, with a huge parade, one of the largest in the state if not the largest and includes old calliopes and antique circus cars, elephants and many things you would expect from an old fashion circus parade.
YouTube had videos that you will want to see.
They were also published on a private site you might like to check out.

Aren't they amazing?
Remember these are not professionals... these are kids.
Some of these acrobats are 12-13 years old!
Of course they weren't thrown into trapeze right away There is a progression in what the kids are allowed to get involved in and it is very competitive. There are cuts and nobody is guaranteed a spot from year to year.
And some may even discover that's what they want to do with their life.

My father was fond of the circus and when we were little he took my sister and me to the Jean Richard Big Top. Vague memories of sitting on wooden benches and of clowns, juggling and dog performing tricks, buckets of confetti thrown into the crowd, balloons...
I sent him the special issue of the Peru tribune dedicated to the Peru Amateur circus and he seemed genuinely interested.

And as summers bring raspberries for a short while, before we know it the Circus has come and gone. At least in Peru, as they also take their show on the road.

I think I'll try and get a t-shirt this year. Brianne was not born in Peru but maybe this could go into her birth year 'time capsule'...
What do you think Mel?