Circus comes to town

In less than a second, a trapeze artist can plunge to the ground. One wrong step and a 700 lb. tiger could end their lives. Slipping from the backs of their horses, riders can find themselves crushed by draft horses with hooves the size of large dinner plates. These dangers are just some of the hazards circus performers face.

Performers at the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus devote an astounding eight months of their lives to entertain over 200 communities on a nearly 3,000-mile-long trip that covers 17 states.

Starting their long day at 8:00 a.m., circus workers spread the tent — which requires 84 support poles and spans 110 feet — across the ground.

"It normally takes about an hour and a half for us to set up the ＆big top＊ and then another 45 minutes to take it down,” explained resident ＆funnyman＊ and clown Leo Acton. “The two center poles are over 30-feet tall, which makes them hard to set in place without assistance. 

“Traditionally, elephants would be used to raise the poles, but nowadays, finding an elephant with a trainer is so expensive we can＊t afford to hire one, so we use our diesel-powered Bobcat lift to position the poles.” 

Their record? A 45-minute setup and 30-minute teardown.”

Throughout the day, circus animals require constant care to ensure they look and perform at their best, too. Properly grooming horses keeps their coats shiny and free of irritants; feeding the tigers ahead of time lessens the risk of stress-related aggression; and giving miniature horses ample rest allows them to pack children all through the night.

While caring for the animals takes time and effort, finishing the setup requires many non-performing circus personnel: bleachers meant to seat a crowd of over 600 people need to be assembled, bounce houses and slides must be inflated and equipment tailored to each act needs to be brought in.

Once setup is complete, performers will prepare for two one-and-a-half hour long performances that require athleticism many do not possess. 

"It＊s hard. You have to run around all night, mic＊d up, without sounding out of breath,” detailed trapeze artist and circus host, Simone Keys. 

But the immense physical requirements are made worth it as performers are able to do what they love for a living.

"I can＊t imagine anywhere else where I could get paid eight months a year to spin while hanging 10 feet off the ground, hanging on by my hair!” said Elizabeth Ayala, a hair-hanging expert.

While the prospect of pursuing one’s passion – and making a living – is appealing, the real reward for circus performers is less material.

"We come back to the same town every two years, so as we come back, we get to see the kids grow up,” Acton shared. ※I＊ve been with C&M Circus for such a long time that I＊ve seen kids that came to the circus grow up and bring their kids, and that is what makes it all worth it to me!”

While life on the road as a circus performer may not be for everyone, those who perform bring their passion to every show. Their captivating personalities and the tricks they spend hours perfecting are put to good use, bringing communities joy and filling children with wonder.