Children can 'Celebrate Circus' For Free

Children can experience what it's like to be part of The Greatest Show on Earth for free on Saturday at the John and Mable Ringling Museum's annual Celebrate Circus.

Children and teens 17 years and younger with a paid adult admission will get to experience all sorts of circus life from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Adult admission is $25 and $20 for senior citizens 65 and over. All museum venues are open.  

Here's a sample of activities:

• Take the circus skills obstacle course challenge.

• Stitch a personalized, decorative pattern that will feature on an Elephant Blanket.

• Create a mobile that resembles, and spins through the air like, a Center Ring aerialist.

• Make a circus hat and bowtie.

• Enjoy interactive entertainment hosted by Radio Disney AM 1380 Tampa.

Ringling will also celebrate the grand opening of the Tibbals Learning Center’s expanded interactive galleries with Howard Tibbals.

The creator of The Howard Bros. Circus Model, the world’s largest miniature circus and a crowd pleaser at the Ringling Museum, will be joined by circus stars, circus model builders, the Windjammers musicians, clowns, and jugglers for a ribbon cutting ceremony held in front of the new galleries at 11:00 a.m. 

Thereafter visitors can step inside to see interactive stations celebrating the acrobats and aerialists, circus clowns, daredevils, and ringmaster.

They can watch video footage of their exhilarating performances. Walk the wire. Squeeze into a miniature clown car. Snap photos next to a ferocious-looking faux tiger. 

In honor of the event and the circus heritage, Tibbals organized a circus celebration planned that day 

Explore the Minis of Circus Model Builders, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Circus model builders from all over the country display their own miniature circus model pieces in the Circus Backyard, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join the Grand Opening of the Tibbals Learning Center’s Expanded Interactive Galleries, 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Howard Tibbals and his wife Janice officially open the Tibbals Learning Center’s expanded interactive galleries from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tibbals generously helped donate funding for the $7.5 million facility, which adjoins the building that houses his circus miniature masterpiece.

Step Right Up to the Interactive, Family-Fun Activity Stations, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Families can visit a variety of circus-themed stations around the grounds and participate in interactive activities designed to show off their artistic talents from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On the lawn of the Banyan Café, the Circus Sarasota Obstacle Course spurs a little family-friendly competition as contestants test their circus skills and agility.

The challenge includes, creating a balloon animal without popping it, testing balancing skills while spinning a plate, and perfecting non-verbal communication skills through the art of mime.

Beyond the obstacle course, the other themed areas encourage art-making. In the Circus Backyard, learn to make a circus hat and bowtie. Create a mobile that spins through the air like a Center Ring aerialist.

In front of the expanded galleries of the Tibbals Learning Center, join others participating in a community quilt project.

Each individual will be asked to stitch an 8 inch by 8 inch personalized, decorative elephant pattern. Each creation will be incorporated into an elephant Blanket for future display at the Ringling.

Rock with Radio Disney AM 1380, noon to 2 p.m.

The Radio Disney AM 1380 Road Crew will host interactive entertainment, including music, activities and prizes. They will be stationed at a tent outside the Tibbals Learning Center from noon to 2 p.m. Participants can register to win a copy of Disney Pixar’s Cars 2.

Be Uplifted by the Sounds of the Circus with the Windjammers Unlimited Concert, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.

The Windjammers perform circus music in a foot tapping concert in the Museum of Art Courtyard. The organization of professional musicians is dedicated to preserving and performing the music of the golden age of the circus.

Dovetailing with the family-oriented programming, Ringling’s Saturdays for Educators also provides personal, as well as professional enrichment, that day for teachers.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the grounds and includes hands-on workshops.  Through the Ringling’s permanent collection teachers learn how they can creatively apply mathematics and sciences to illustrate how circus acts amaze and astound audiences. The cost is $5 per person. It includes lunch, materials, and 3 CEU credit hours. Registration is required. For more information, visit the Ringling’s website at: www.ringling.org.  

The Celebrate Circus program is funded in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Institutions Program; and in part by the Les and Judy Smout Foundation, as well as the Koski Family Foundation.