Children Of All Ages! Circus Coming To Town To Aid Good Cause

Children of all ages! Circus coming to town to aid good cause

By TONYA GRIFFIN

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

The circus is coming to town and for a good purpose.

St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital is sponsoring the appearance of the Royal Hannefbrd Circus in the hospital’s tenth annual circus weekend, Thursday through Sunday at the airport, located on Ellsworth and State roads.

Proceeds will go toward the Campaign for Cardiovascular Care, an effort by the hospital to raise $3 million to fight heart and vascular disease.

The circus, underwritten by the Chelsea Milling Co., features a gala $100-a-ticket opening night, along with a parade and several public performances.

Dr. Walter Whitehouse, a vascular surgeon at St. Joseph’s and co-chairman for the campaign, said raising the funds is a combined effort of the hospital and the Heart and Vascular Institute to educate people and pay for research.

The organization already has raised $2.5 million through charity events and community and business support, said Margo Burrage, the hospital’s media relations coordinator.

On Wednesday, the public is welcome to watch the Big Top go up at the airport and the animals led out of the circus trucks.

On Thursday, the opening circus gala starts under the Big Top, with dinner, dancing and a special circus performance scheduled for the $100-a-ticket event.

At noon Friday, a crowd is expected to watch the annual circus parade, when circus wagons, clowns, marching bands and animals will march through Ann Arbor’s downtown and campus area.

The circus has scheduled six public performances: 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday.

Limited ringside seating will be available at a cost of $15 for both adults and children. Advance tickets for general admission seats are $10 for adults and $5 for children 2 to 14 years old.

Tickets are available at area Kroger and Video Watch stores.

Dexter circus aids Kiwanis

The circus is coming to Dexter, courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Dexter, which is sponsoring the Kelly Miller Bros, three-ring circus Thursday.

Proceeds from the circus will go to the Kiwanis Club, which will use the money to fund local projects.

The circus will perform at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. outside Dexter High School, 2615 Baker Road.

Tickets purchased in advance are $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. If tickets are purchased on circus day, the cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

The public can watch to circus unloading their trucks and setting up the tents beginning about 7 a.m. Thursday.