Circus Parade to Hit Halifax Streets

The Museum of Natural History is hitting the streets of Halifax with a children's circus parade on Saturday, Aug. 23. It's part of the museum's program focusing on the World Circus exhibit visiting from the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que.

For more than 200 years the circus parade was a powerful and alluring advertising tool used by the travelling circus to draw customers to performances under the "Big Top." Before television, the circus and its parade was the "piece de resistance" of entertainment.

Historically, the parade included a procession of clowns, musicians, live exotic animals and fantastic and beautifully decorated wagons. It wound through the city, ending at the show lot.

"Our museum parade will also be a thrilling kaleidoscope of colour, sights and sounds," said Alex Wilson, manager of interpretation at the museum. "Children can decorate their tricycles, wagons or scooters. With music-makers and favourite stuffed animal toys, we will create our own version of a circus parade."

To help get ready for the parade, a decorating workshop will be held from 10 a.m to noon. The museum is supplying all of the accessories to adorn wagons or tricycles. Funny clown faces will be provided by Rosie Facepainting.

The sidewalk-parade begins at around 1 p.m. at the Museum of Natural History and will proceed along Summer Street, Sackville Street and Bell Road. Children interested in joining can call the museum at 902-424-3563.

"Everyone loves a parade, and although our's may be a tad modest compared to that of Barnum and Bailey's, it's going to be great fun," said Mr. Wilson.