Carden International will bring the “Spectacular Circus” to the county and set up their big top on Thursday, March 3, at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center in Duncan.
Tickets are currently on sale for this one-time show at 6:30 p.m., with a pre-show at 5:30 p.m.
Jillian Kaplan, owner of Spotlight public relations event marketing, said the circus’ elephant trainer Joey Frisco has worked with elephants for his whole life and is a “multigenerational animal ‘caretaker.’”
Frisco said he’s the third generation with his family to be involved with the circus and with the animals and since he was small, he has worked on and off with many of the elephants, which star in about four to six minutes of the show’s production.
“With our showgirls and the elephants dressed up, it’s basically an exercise for them, to keep them physically fit,” Frisco said. “The other part that they do is give elephant rides, which is a mental stimulation in another way.”
According to Frisco, they have four elephants in the show and with proper care for them, they are able to live long, healthy lives.
Audiences can expect to see the elephants, as well as camels, horses, miniature ponies, circus dogs and a house cat act with six cats.
Along with the animals, the circus has a variety of performance acts.
“Some of our newer ones that came in were on America’s Got Talent, called the Bone Breakers,” Frisco said. “Then, we have two- or three-wheel acts — a little old, a lot of new, but it’s a show that’s always guaranteed to be 100% PG family fun.”
The pre-show will kick off the night.
“It all starts one-hour before the show,” Frisco said. “It’s a pre-show party where everybody can come with a purchase of the circus ticket. You come in, you have an opportunity to ride an elephant, ride a camel, ride a circus pony, get a photo with a jungle snake, face painted, or you can look at circus treats and circus toys.”
Frisco said his favorite part is the bond he has with the elephants.
“They are the second smartest animal in the world,” Frisco said. “They are highly intelligent and the bond that you get with them — the elephants that I’ve worked with here have been in my family for three generations.”
Frisco said he’s been around one of the elephants since he was born.
“One elephant that I’ve worked with, she’s our oldest elephant at 58,” Frisco said.
Frisco said he appreciated the bond he forms while working with and caring for the animals.
“It’s been really cool to have that type of relationship with them and care for them and have them as part of my family,” Frisco said.
Frisco said they would love everyone to come out for the pre-show at 5:30 p.m. on March 3 and engage with the performers and animals.
Concessions will be available to purchase, from circus treats to circus toys, as well as soft drinks, funnel cakes, hot dogs, nachos, snow cones, cotton candy and more.
“All the old-time circus treats,” Frisco said.
During the two-hour show, attendees will be able to see contortionists as they bend and twist in extreme ways.
For a limited time, pre-sale ticket prices for adults are $9.99 online and general admission tickets online are $10 for children 12 and under. Adult tickets are $20. Children under 2 are free. According to a release, some acts can change without notice.
Due to loud noises within the arena, those with auditory sensitivities may want to bring along a pair of noise canceling headphones for added comfort and enjoyment of the show.
For more information about obtaining tickets, visit www.spectacularcircus.com or go to the show one hour prior to the circus beginning.
The Stephens County Fair & Expo Center is located at 2002 S. 13th St. in Duncan.
