By Alex Davidson
The circus is coming to Forest Park.
From July 25 to July 27, 25 animals including tigers, elephants, llamas, zebras and trained cats and dogs will perform for Queens and city residents under one big top tent.
Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. circus spokesman Chuck Warner said trainers have been working for weeks with the animals in the touring company and are ready to bring tricks and performances to Queens.
“We're the world's largest circus under a big top,” Warner said of the circus' football-field sized tent. “We travel pretty much throughout the East Coast of the United States.”
The circus has been in Staten Island and will be moving to Flushing Meadows Corona Park next week, Warner said.
Warner said the traveling circus uses 78 trucks and trailers to transport tenting, animals, equipment and circus personnel from site to site. The Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. circus has been coming to Forest Park for 14 years, he said.
The big top tent will be erected in the parking lot behind the Forest Park Bandshell Friday between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Warner said the unique site allows for a traditional circus tent to be set up, which is different from modern circuses that mostly perform in buildings and arenas.
“It's more of a real event,” said Warner, who usually sees a lot of senior citizens at the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. circus. “It reminds them (senior citizens) of circuses they grew up with.”
Warner said Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. travels from the middle of March through Thanksgiving each year, performing in 106 cities throughout the country.
A spokeswoman for the city Department of Parks and Recreation said shows will be held Friday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. She said tickets for the circus can be bought from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Park carousel every day leading up to the circus.
Tickets can also be bought the day of the event.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
