The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
Dame Delilah introduces herself as early guests appreciate her presence.
These acrobats wow the audiance with smiles and daredevil aerial acts.
This year's Jubilee weekend began with the Culpepper, Merriweather traveling one-ring circus at the arena west of town. Of the two showings Wednesday afternoon, the first was truly standing room only.
The show entertained children and adults alike as the trainer shared an enclosed ring with young lion Wendal and 19-year-old tiger Delilah along with acrobats and a bird show.
Earlier in the day, guests arrived to take advantage of the invitation to watch the raising of the big top and a more intimate introduction to the three big cats that travel with the other entertainers from March through October. The performers live in Oklahoma and return to their home state for a four-month furlough after each eight-month tour.
Leo the Clown (without makeup) was guide to about 20 people, explaining the steps and effort needed to set up the massive vinyl tent in time to welcome everyone to the show.
The tent is composed of several individual sections, each weighing approximately 700 pounds, and takes a skid-steer and a five to six man crew to assemble over around 3.5 hours on the day of the show. The tent is broken down after the last performance, which takes around an hour and a half, and transported to the next event.
After the tent was assembled, guests were directed to the three cages inside of the circle of caravans. Two tigers and a lion were resting before their act.
All three cats had been bought by the circus as rescues over the years; the two tigers had been with the circus for nearly 16 years and the lion for 18 months. The off-duty clown explained the cats are able to enjoy a bit more ground on which to walk during the four months off.
Several ponies and one miniature donkey named Finn also relaxed and enjoyed the grass as everyone unloaded and set up for the night's activities.
Later, lines moved quickly and energy was high as kids, young and old, walked into the big top to enjoy a circus in Moorcroft for the first time since the mid 1950s, according to lifetime Moorcroft resident Rosalie Brimmer.
After many years of dedicated service to the festival, former organizers have retired from the Moorcroft Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) and new Jubilee organizers Krissy Hinkhouse and Maddy Petersen were greatly commended for the fun new venue brought to town.
