When I hear that a circus is coming to town, the first thing that comes to mind is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. After all, “The Greatest Show on Earth” has been around for over 130 years and travels to every major metropolitan city across the country. They are an American tradition.

This weekend, however, a different group of acrobats, clowns and daredevil aerial artists will be performing. The Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars will be in Ocoee on Friday, Saturday and Sunday performing seven shows under their red and yellow “Big Top” circus tent. Featuring more than a score of educated animal performers, including elephants, horses and poodles, it’s a show that sounds like a lot of fun.

Apparently, the Cole Bros. Circus started as the Clyde Beatty circus back in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s traveling the country by train. In 1958, two years after the trains were dropped for trucks, the Cole Bros. name was added and the circus performed under that brand until 2004. In that year, the circus dropped the Clyde Beatty name and also the tigers and elephants from the show. In 2006, however, the elephants returned and the circus has only gotten bigger since.

All of this history is available in the book, “A Pictorial History of the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros Circus”, by Bob Goldsack, and on the Cole Bros. Circus website. It’s history that I was completely unaware of until doing a quick Google search about the Cole Bros. after I saw a poster advertising the circus last week.

If you plan on going and have kids under the age of 12, make sure to download the free ticket. Admission for everyone else is between $12 and $17 and can be purchased through the Cole Bros. website.

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