Usually around 11:00 in the morning the Circus Parade would start its long trek into town and down the main street. As the procession left the circus lot the calliope would begin to play. The tones from the vaporic cacophonic and musical mechanisms could be heard from miles away. Hearing the lively tunes, the townspeople would line up along each side of the street in anticipation.

Leading the Parade were riders on magnificent steeds, wearing colorful uniforms, shiny boots and a tall hat adorned with short fluffy feathers. As they entered Main Street you could hear the clopping of hoofs on the cobblestones and the riders as they would shout, “Hold your horses the elephants are coming”.

Following behind was the show owner or the equestrian director wearing a stove top hat, leather gloves and a boutonnière, riding in a high-wheeled buggy or a two-wheeled cart pulled by a pair of beautifully matched horses. Next came the Parade Marshals, banner bearers and buglers on horseback.

A gigantic bandwagon bearing vivid colors and large sunburst wheels was close behind. It was pulled by a string of horses, two abreast and crammed with musicians. Each horse wore red, white and blue plumes; their harnesses were decorated with rosettes and brass medallions. The driver was astride the last horse on the left side or perched on a tiny seat that stuck out in front of the wagon He held long lines that stretched to the heads of the 10 to 20 horses he was driving.

There were more wagons of various sizes carrying stylish ladies in spangles and beads, caged tigers, lions, leopards and panthers. Each wagon rolled on four sixteen-spoke wheels,

High School Horses pranced, and a brass band with trumpets blaring led more wagons containing sea lions, walruses and large brown bears. Clowns were everywhere, walking their dogs, ducks and perhaps a baby pig, their antics drawing laughter from the crowd. Some of the clowns rode in tiny carts drawn by a pony or a goat and balloons were in abundance.

Finally the elephants strode down the street, trunk to tail, wearing ornate blankets and silver nameplates on their foreheads. Gigantic in size, they gracefully paraded in front of the whooping and hollering crowd.

Bringing up the rear was the calliope, music exploding into the air through the glittering gold pipes standing majestically atop the delicately carved wagon. A dignified gentleman was seated at the organ, fingers flying over the keys and gently swaying in time to the music.

Gone are the days of the Grand Circus Parade. No longer can you see the majestic horses, the elephants and the magnificent lions with their golden manes as they parade down the street for all to see. Gone are the blare of the trumpets and the lively music of the calliope.

All that’s left are memories.

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