NORTH ANDOVER — It's become as big a town tradition as the fireworks on the Fourth of July. The Kelly Miller Circus is coming to the North Andover Middle School fields for two days starting July 1.
To usher in the Independence Day weekend, the circus has announced that all active duty military personnel and their families will get into the circus free of charge.
"It's the least we can do for the folks protecting our country," said Tom Ippolito, the circus coordinator for the North Andover Lions.
All they have to do is go to the ticket window and provide their military identification cards for admission.
The Hugo, Oklahoma-based circus will have shows at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., on July 1 and 2. The circus features acrobats and trapeze performers, jugglers, clowns, tigers, horses, trained dogs and elephants.
The Kelly Miller Circus also invites the public to witness the raising of the big top on the morning of the first show. Activities start at 7:30 a.m., with the tent being raised at 9 a.m.
"This is something the children will remember for the rest of their lives, seeing the animals being unloaded and put on display, the colorful circus trucks and the big top going up with the help of a contingent of men and an elephant," said circus owner John Ringling North.
Admission is $14 for adults and $7 for children.
Advance tickets will be offered at a discount — $10 for adults and $6 for children — and are available at the following locations: St. Michael Church, Main Street Hardware and CVS/pharmacy, on Main Street; Perfecto's Caffe on Osgood Street; Treadwell's ice cream at Smolak Farms on South Bradford Street; and J&M Convenience Store on Salem Street.
The circus is sponsored by Wheelabrator Inc.
The circus is the Lions Club's biggest fundraiser of the year. The club's mission is to eradicate blindness in the world. It also donated money to the North Andover Senior Center, Stevens Memorial Library and Lawrence fire victims.
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