Wonders Under the Big Top

The Cole Brothers Circus has been coming to the region for decades. Owner and Producer John Pugh says he strives to make the show new every year. So while you may have seen the circus in past years, you may not have seen many of the acts who are performing under the big top in this edition.

The tent itself is also new this year. Pugh said it was a big portion of the million dollars he put into upgrading his circus for the nine month 2011 touring season. The tent covers "about the size of a football field" and was custom tailored to a design Pugh said he began working on nearly 10 years ago.  The vinyl tent requires three flatbed tractor trailers to move, one just for the vinyl material and two for the rigging that holds it all in place.

The Cole Brothers Circus bills itself as "the biggest circus under the big top". One feature of the new tent is the lack of tent poles that obstruct views. Pugh says the giant tent was designed to be supported by just four main rigging towers inside and series of supports around the perimeter, but behind the seats.

The circus has two shows scheduled for Thursday at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.