By Staff
HANDKERCHIEF TRICK  Crestwood kindergarten student Aliayah Gamble, 5, was full of giggles when Mr. Jiggs pulled her up on the stage to help with a handkerchief trick. Mr. Jiggs gave her a free ticket to ride an elephant when she made the handkerchief stand up. The clown invited Crestwood Elementary pre-kindergarten through second-grade students to the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus coming to Bonita Lakes Mall Oct. 19-20. Photo by Carisa McCain / The Meridian Star.
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Oct. 18, 2002
One of the oldest circus families billing itself as "The Worlds Largest Circle Under the Big Top" arrives in town tonight for a two-day line-up in Meridian.
Hundreds of circus workers, animals and high-wire acts from the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus will pull into Meridian late tonight after wrapping up a three-day stop in Hattiesburg.
This year marks the second year the circus will come to Meridian, setting up a five-story red and yellow circus tent in the back parking lot of Bonita Lakes Mall.
Acts at this year's circus include: Nubian lions and royal Bengal tigers, trapeze artists, aerobatics, tight-wire acts, Persian cat acts, aerial ballerinas, clowns, the Human Cannonball and much more.
The fun begins Saturday at 7 a.m. as circus workers raise the giant big top in the mall parking lot. Several of the animals, including the elephants, will also be on display.
Showtimes Saturday are 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $9 to $22 depending on age, seat location and the time of purchase. Advance tickets may be purchased today at the customer service office at Bonita Lakes Mall for $2 off the regular price.
Maresca said the show is definitely worth the money.
Each show lasts about two hours and includes an intermission. After the performers finish their final show on Sunday in Meridian, the circus will hit the road for Gulfport for its last stop in Mississippi.
The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus is nearing the end of its eight-month tour around the eastern United States. After leaving Mississippi, the circus will head to Florida for its final 10 shows.
During the eight-month run, the circus performs in more than 115 cities and travels an average of 10,000 miles.