Milwaukee Great Circus Parade is Back In Town

Madison, WI (Vocus) June 25, 2009 -- On July 12, excited crowds of nearly 1 million people will fill Milwaukee's streets to see at least 50 restored, wood-carved circus wagons, dozens of costumed circus performers, 300 horses, two dozen bands, a steam calliope and a variety of exotic animals in the revival of one of America's most festive events: the Great Circus Parade (http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/Parade/EventOverview.aspx). The massive event recreates circus parades from the early 1900's and will mark the parade's first appearance in Milwaukee since 2003.

Done in conjunction with the Circus World Museum (http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/) historic site, The Great Circus Parade Festival begins on June 28 with Wagon Roll-Out Days in Baraboo, Wis. Featuring authentic, intricately carved circus wagons displayed in all their glory, Wagon Roll-Out Days will take place on the grounds of Circus World: a museum and entertainment complex built on the original Ringing Brothers Circus Winter quarters. Baraboo is the original home of the Ringling Brothers Circus--founded in 1884--and the parade coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Circus World Museum.

Open year-round, the Circus World Museum is a lively celebration of "The Greatest Show on Earth." Visitors can browse circus history through artwork and artifacts not found anywhere else in the world, interact with real elephants or take part in KidsWorld Circus, an interactive program where kids can get in on the act and pretend to be animals, magicians and ringmasters on the center stage.

And no circus museum would be complete without big-top performances, of which the Circus World Museum has plenty. From mid-May through August, visitors can experience the heyday of the circus through clown make-up shows, animal performances, magic displays and the Classic American Circus: a spectacle dazzling displays and death-defying feats.

For free Wisconsin travel information and travel-planning guides, visit travelwisconsin.com (http://www.travelwisconsin.com/) or call the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's toll-free number 1-800-432-TRIP/8747.

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