Celebrate circus!

"Tibbals Learning Center opens its doors to cheers."--SARASOTA HERALD
TRIBUNE

TIBBALS LEARNING CENTER OPENS TO PUBLIC DELIGHT

With balloons, whistles, red noses and ballyhoo the Circus Museum's Tibbals Learning Center opened to crowds of amazed visitors in January. The sparkling new venue, and its soaring, interior spaces left visitors awestruck. A vibrant entrance awning, reminiscent of a circus big top, greeted guests while barely hinting at the wonders within.

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Visitors were able to see for the first time the astonishing and incredible Howard Bros. Circus. Inch by fantastic inch, the Howard Bros. Circus is the most accurate model of the tented circus when it was at its largest. No detail was overlooked by builder Howard Tibbals on his project begun 50 years ago.

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The details of the model are mind-boggling. In the dining tent, each diminutive diner's plate is replete with tiny hamburgers and flanked by utensils of similar scale. Thousands of folding chairs were unfolded for the spectators. The overall effect is magical.

Other wonders greeted guests in the halls of this amazing building. An incredible display of circus posters line the venue's walls. The posters are mammoth in scale.

Visitors learn the cultural impact of the American circus in an interactive timeline on the 2nd floor. The parade of important dates takes the viewer from the ancient roots of the circus to the circus of today.

Circus Museum's Tibbals Learning Center offers exciting new displays for children of all ages. Come visit this extraordinary wonder today.

CIRCUS SPECTACULAR A FANTASTIC EVENT

Drums, cymbals and bells--the 125 year-old mechanical voice of the band organ--reverberated across the grounds and welcomed visitors to the 4th Annual Circus Spectacular. Over 1000 people were wowed by the miraculous miniatures on display from the Diamond Jim Parker Ring local chapter of the Circus Model Builders International.

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Pitter Pat treated visitors to the "Tattoo Booth" to fanciful face painting. All around the grounds you could see people practicing their newfound circus skills. Clown antics were a big hit ... so many people were tripping and doing double takes, you would have thought a clown college was in session!

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The Windjammers Unlimited performance was a delight to the ear. The happy sounds a perfect end to the first day of the festival. It was an honor to have circus legends LaNorma Fox and Jackie LeClaire reminisce about their experiences filming Cecil B. DeMille's classic The Greatest Show on Earth, sharing their stories.