Circus Brings Smiles to Young and Old

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BIG RIDE: Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce leader Valerie Harrison (front) joins East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery and Caroline Braun from Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s aboard an elephant at the Carson & Barnes Circus.

May 3, 2009(San Diego’s East County)--Hosted by the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, the world-renowned Carson & Barnes Circus presented a dazzling performance in La Mesa last week. For over 70 years, the circus has been a source of entertainment, bringing joy to people of all ages—and East County proved no exception. Performers, including a menagerie of exotic and domestic animals, captivated the crowd and gave smiles to youngsters and the young at heart. View our videos: Flying High: Trapeze Artists and Jumbo Stars: Elephants!

Before the show began, numerous animals, including elephants, llamas, camels, zebras and a hippo, were on display. Adults and children were able to go on elephant and camel rides, in addition to feeding and petting the animals.

“It‘s heart-warming to see all the children, and how excited they are,” Valerie Harrison, president of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber, told East County Magazine. “This makes it all worthwhile.”

During intermission, Harrison joined East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery and Supervisor Jacob’s representative Caroline Braun as the trio shared an elephant ride beneath the big-top—a one-of-a-kind experience also savored by many other audience members.

The show began with antics performed by “Alex” the clown, then continued on with exceptional stunts performed by acrobats and a trapeze artist troupe that has previously performed at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. But the loudest applause was reserved for the show’s “biggest” stars--a trio of performing elephants.

The circus has drawn criticism from animal rights groups for its use of exotic animals, a practice some believe is inhumane. A lone protester outside the show held a sign portraying a circus elephant with a message that read, “A lifetime of misery.”

But for most gathered beneath the Big Top here last week, the show proved a memorable and unique experience.

Story and Photos by Marisa Kezirian

 


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