The Special Smell Of The Circus

The appearance of the Shrine Circus at the DECC this weekend brings back many fond memories of entertainment “under the big top” over the years.  I can remember the circus coming to town was always a really big deal as a kid.  Posters would start popping up on telephone poles around the neighborhood a few days in advance of their arrival.  Then, on the big day, they would pull into town on the train (in the early years…later by truck) and organize a parade down the main street to give everyone a taste of what was in store at the big show.  The parade included a calliope blasting out typical circus music, followed by lions, tigers and other wild animals in mobile cages, plodding elephants, plenty of clowns and the stars of the show…the high wire and trapeze acts.  The atmosphere under the, usually hot, big top was very unique, a combination of smells that included popcorn, cotton candy, cigar smoke, sawdust and wild animal droppings.  It’s not quite the same in an arena, but the experience is still one that every kid should have at least once in their life.