STHE HADI SHRINE CIRCUS RETURNS FOR THE 2024 HOLIDAY SEASON!

BY GRETCHIN IRONS

Since 1933, the Hadi Shrine Circus has been a jewel of the Tri-State. With thousands of performers and millions of attendees spanning generations, its legacy is second to none. Experience The Last Great American Circus with the Hadi Shrine!

Sparkly sequins, prancing puppies, daring feats fraught with danger - all under one Big Top. It’s a Spectacle, no wait ... it’s “The Greatest Show on Earth." And it’s headed our way!

The traveling circus with its colorful cast of characters has captured the imagination and attention of young and old alike for hundreds of years. As an aside, the modern circus came into being in England in 1768 when Philip Astley, a former sergeant major turned trick rider, found that if he galloped in a circle while standing on his horse's back, centrifugal and centripetal forces helped him to keep his balance.

Videos can’t quite capture the smell of popcorn, peanuts, and cotton candy, the excited gasps of the crowds, or the roaring applause that enhances this magical experience. And don’t forget the music that sets the perfect mood. Here in Evansville, our own Hadi Shrine Circus (hailed as one of the LAST great circuses), has been thrilling families across the Tri-State since 1933! Why has this Evansville staple continued to thrill generation upon generation? We go for the whimsy and wonder, but we go back because of the memories. “I didn’t get to do a lot of fun things with my grandparents, but one of the main things I remember from my childhood is getting to go to the Circus with my Grandpa.”Josh Young, from Facebook.

And if you think you’ve seen this circus? You haven’t. It’s new every year, with original acts, famous performers, and of course, comedic clowns to bring the laughs. Wonder, whimsy, and magic await you at this year’s circus! Expect aerialists to fly overhead and jugglers to keep things flying without a single bat of the eye. The 91st Annual Hadi Shrine Circus opens Thanksgiving Day, and it’s the perfect family tradition to open the Holiday Season! “I’ve been every year since I was a baby, and I take my daughter every year since she was born. It’s always great!” - Chelsea Ward, from Facebook

In April of this year, the Evansville Hadi Shriners announced that the elephants would no longer be a part of the Circus. According to the Shriners, three new acts will be added to this year's circus in the absence of the elephants. Those acts include a BMX group, a returning Motocross Group, and an aerial act from Aidan Bryant. "As we kick off the countdown to the 100th year celebration, our committee has made the decision to begin the next decade and beyond without the inclusion of the Hadi Shrine Circus elephants," a statement reads. "We are passionate about animals and featuring them in the circus to the wondrous awe of our audience. With great respect to our illustrious pachyderms, we believe the time is right to retire the elephants from the Hadi Shrine Circus."

While the circus is without the elephant acts, it continues to offer a thrilling and unforgettable experience for all ages. On April 17, 2024, the Hadi Shriners were quoted in an interview with 14News, stating "We want to sincerely thank the Millers who have cared for our extended elephant family over the years. The elephants will continue to live in Oklahoma at the Endangered Ark Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to caring for and preserving the second largest population of Asian elephants in North America. They will always be, to us, the only true Hadi Shrine Circus elephants."

Tickets are available now at the Ford Center box office, as well as online: https://hadishrinecircus. com/tickets/

2024 Show Schedule:

Thanksgiving Day – 5:00 p.m.

Friday, November 29th – 9:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 30th – 9:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 1st – 3:00 p.m.

Find the Hadi Shrine Circus Online: Website: hadishrinecircus.com Facebook: facebook.com/hadishrinecircus

“Ithink your personality really comes out when you paint,” said Evansville artist Claudia Young. “It’s like your signature – you can’t change how you paint if you want to.”

This must mean Young, like her paintings, is bold, colorful, cheerful and a little whimsical. She is the featured artist at the Honey Moon Coffee Co. shop on Burkhardt Road, where her paintings change every month. In November, look for seasonal, fall-inspired designs featuring Thanksgiving motifs, turkeys, and, probably, at least one appearance by Abraham Lincoln.

Young, who is 68, grew up in Evansville. She started her forays into painting as a youngster.

“In the 60’s, there was a place called The Artist’s Market in Washington Square Mall,” she said. “On Saturdays they would have art lessons for kids. They would put little easels in the mall outside the store and we would paint. They’d even let us use oil paints, and people would come by and look and it was really cool. I loved it.

“I had a wonderful art teacher at Washington Grade School who would put big rolls of paper on the board and we could come in and paint on it during recess, so it was like a big mural. She had a little art club after school and we’d do special art projects.”

Young became a teacher herself and always included art in her classes, from starting an