Shrine Circus returns to Calsonic Arena

Children enjoy getting to meet circus stars up close -- especially the elephants. (T-G File Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

The Al Menah Shrine Circus will return to Calsonic Arena on the Celebration grounds tonight, with performances, at 4:30 and 7:30.

There will be elephants, tigers, sheepdogs, ponies, aerialists, the Teeterboard Troupe, a motorcycle daredevil on an incline wire, a revolving wheel act and more -- but not all the fun takes place within the three-ring show, which lasts about two hours and 15 minutes. There will be also elephant and pony rides, moonbounces, photos and face painting.

Local proceeds will be used by the Shrine Club of Shelbyville for its charitable work.

Luckily for Bedford County, the Shriners don't have a lot of work to do here.

"If there is a child that is burned or a child born with a cleft palate or club feet, we get them to the Shriner hospitals," said Thomas Smith, a member of the local temple. "We contribute to the Shriners, which is nationwide."

The organization's primary fundraiser is, of course, the Shriner paper sale every May, but money will be raised through the circus.

"We'll send that to the temple in Nashville," said Smith, who said all of the funds raised go to the hospitals, where the children are treated at no charge.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what your race or religion is, rich or poor -- we help anybody that needs help and has a crippled child," said Ralph Allen, another local Shriner. "All the money raised goes to help the crippled children."

Over the years, the Shrine Circus has expanded.

"They used to just do it down in Nashville," said Allen. "But now they have one here and in Cookeville, so we have three in this area every year."

The circus, which has visited Shelbyville the last two Octobers, is presented by Missouri-based George Carden Circus International. Carden is the fifth generation in his family to be involved in show business and is a lifelong veteran of the circus. He started his own production in 1981 and later merged it with his father Larry's circus. Carden has three circus units traveling the country, based on a 20-acre farm in Missouri between Springfield and Willard. The circus travels over 40,000 miles each year in the U.S. and Canada during its 42-week season.

Tickets at the door are $12 for children (ages 2 to12) and $16 for adults. Children under 2 are admitted free. Children's tickets are also $10 if bought individually, but there is a buy one, get one free offer which allows two tickets to be bought for $10. Tickets are available one hour before show time at the Calsonic Arena Ticket Office.