CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa residents and visitors can expect to see acrobats, performing elephants, Siberian and Royal Bengal tigers and other attractions next week when the Loomis Bros. Circus comes to town.
The circus will present eight shows Nov. 8-11 at Old Spanish Trail Park.
It’ll be a homecoming for ringmaster Justin Loomis, whose mom, Paulette Loomis, and sister live in Crestview. Paulette sings "God Bless America" to start each Crestview performance.
During the city's Nov. 11 Veterans Day parade, the renowned Loomis Bros. Circus elephants will join other groups to honor U.S. veterans.
This is the fourth year the Main Street Crestview Association has sponsored the traveling circus, which is now in its 16th year.
Previously the association hosted traveling carnivals, member Cal Zethmayr said. However, there were accountability issues regarding the association's percentage of the ticket office take.
"I started calling around to see what other carnivals or events were available," Zethmayr said. "Then I ran into Mrs. Paulette Loomis at a Main Street event and she said, 'Well, my son has a circus.'"
Zethmayr said the partnership between Main Street and the circus has been mutually beneficial and enjoyable, and has also been profitable for the association, which uses its share to produce downtown events such as the Fall Festival and Christmas parade.
"We know right to the penny what we took in," Zethmayr said.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Loomis Bros. Circus, benefiting the Main Street Crestview Association
WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 8; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Nov. 9; and 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11. Gates open an hour beforehand.
WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, at Stillwell Boulevard and Industrial Drive
TICKETS: $10 advance, $15 at gate; available at select area merchants in Crestview, Baker, Blackman, Laurel Hill and DeFuniak Springs. Details: 240-4053.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Loomis Bros. Circus coming to town this weekend