Volunteers prepare for Ypsi PRIDE Day
May. 13, 2010 · 7:09 a.m.
Each year, residents in and around the city of Ypsilanti carry on a tradition started by a group of community members enrolled in a city leadership program, a sort...read more
Bicycles zoom as flowers bloom
Apr. 30, 2010 · 2:11 p.m.
The weather has turned, the trees are budding and the flowers are popping out of the ground; time for a cruise through town. But don’t be so quick to hop in the...read more
Sheriff Clayton visits Ypsilanti Township
Apr. 29, 2010 · 12:59 p.m.
About 50 Ypsilanti Township residents gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff Office their input about law enforcement in the community Tuesday evening.
The information...read more
Local photographer raising funds for Ypsi Project exhibit
Apr. 20, 2010 · 2:20 a.m.
Ypsilanti has many faces, and Erica Hampton wants to share a few of them with you.
Over the past year, Hampton created the The Ypsi Project, a series of portraits...read more
Savoy taking shape as live music venue
Apr. 17, 2010 · 2:38 p.m.
Ypsilanti's newest concert venue is preparing for its grand opening weekend April 23, more than a month after its soft opening March 13.
Formerly Club Divine,...read more
Photo by Christine Laughren
Elephants from last year's circus entertain the crowd under the big-top in Riverside Park. Tickets from Friday's circus will benefit the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees.
Ticket sales to benefit Jaycees
Aug. 6, 2009 · 11:10 a.m.
The Ypsilanti Area Jaycees will be bringing the circus into town Friday.
The club will be using the event as a fund raiser to aid its budget, which is used to benefit several programs it runs throughout the year.
There will be two showings of the Oklahoma-based Kelly Miller Circus in Riverside Park. Lasting two hours, shows will start at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
However, residents are welcome to get an early taste. Lisa, an elephant with the traveling circus, will be in the park at 9 a.m. Friday setting up the big top. Watching Lisa at work is free.
“We like people to come out and watch the circus set up,” said Jim Royal, general manager for the Kelly Miller Circus. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Royal said going to a circus under a big top is different than attending an indoor performance. He said the company knows tradition, as it has been touring the country since 1938.
“We feel it’s a much better atmosphere,” Royal said. “(The tent) is purpose built.”
After the tent is set up, visitors to the circus will be treated to performances from Brazilian trapeze artists, Peruvian acrobats, bare-back horse riders, tigers and of course clowns.
“It’s a traditional circus,” Royal said. “(Clowns) are a staple.”
The Kelly Miller Circus has been a fundraiser for the Jaycees for three years. Adam Stolt, a member of the club for six years, said putting the event on has been no small task.
To accommodate the circus, the group must provide all the permits to put the event on, remove the event’s rubbish and, most of all, dispose of the animal waste. Though Stolt said the process has become streamlined over the years.
“We’re still growing it,” Stolt said of the circus. “It has potential to be our largest fundraiser.”
He said the Jaycees broke even putting the event on the first time. Last year, he said the group brought in $2,200.
“We’re hoping to exceed that this year,” Stolt said.
The money raised will go to the Jaycees’ general budget. He said the group uses money to put on its various community projects throughout the year. The group holds events to benefit the needy during the holidays and has a large role in Ypsi PRIDE Day.
Tickets to the carnival are $6 for children and $10 for adults in advance. Those prices increase to $7 for children and $14 for adults at the door.
Advanced tickets can be purchased from the Hershey’s Ice Cream Blue Spoon Grill on Whittaker Road, Key Bank downtown, Café Luwak in Depot Town, The Rocket downtown and the Lake Side Health Club on Rawsonville Road.
Tickets will also be on sale during the Cruise Night in Depot Town 6 – 8 p.m. tonight.
For more information visit the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees’ Website and the Kelly Miller Circus Website.
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