Alsip Park District Works With ‘Exotic Animal-Free’ Circus

ALSIP, IL -- For the past several years, the Alsip Park District has brought a traditional tented circus to the village as a summer treat for area families. Last year, the Carson Barnes Circus, dogged by complaints of abuse of its elephants by animal rights activists, circled through the village. Carson Barnes had a documented history of violations and fines associated with its pachyderm performers.

The use of elephants as performers, especially in circuses, has drawn criticism due to a growing understanding of the trauma elephants are said to experience in captivity. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus retired its pachyderm performers in 2016 after decades of mounting public outcry. (SUBSCRIBE: Get Real-Time Alerts and a Daily Newsletter for Alsip-Crestwood.)

This year, the Alsip Park District has opted to bring the “exotic animal-free” Kelly Miller Circus for four family-friendly shows on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 at the Swap-O-Rama grounds located at 4350 W. 129th St, Alsip. Residents also are invited to come watch circus veterans raise the big top for free around 9 a.m. Sept. 11 and get an insider’s view of circus life.

>>> TICKET INFO: Kelly Miller Circus Pitches Big Top In Alsip For 4 Performances

Until last year, the Hugo, OK-based circus was owned by John Ringling North II, the last of the famous of circus family to be in the business. North’s grandmother was the only sister of the original seven Ringling Brothers. With many states and cities enacting bans on circus elephants and other exotic animal performers, Kelly Miller was in danger of folding up the big top. According to PETA, the animal rights watchdog group, North was forced to sell Kelly Miller Circus at the end of 2017 following declining ticket sales and public outrage over its cruel animal acts.

"That's not the circus I grew up in and not how I want to carry on," North told NewsOK.

New owner James Kendrick Judkins, a former fire-eater, announced that Kelly Miller Circus would not be using wild animals in its production before hitting the road for its 80th season in 2018. While the circus no longer uses circus elephants, camels, lions, tigers and other wild animals, audiences don’t seem to miss the animal acts. Audiences are no further than 50 feet away from the acts that feature an international cast of circus performers, including a husband-wife contortionist act, where the wife shoots a bow and arrow from between her legs.

Judkins told the Daily Herald that he made his circus animal-free "because I wanted to do something different."

Alsip Park District executive director Jeannette Huber told Patch that she received one phone call last year from a resident asking the park district to reconsider hosting Carson Barnes or any show where wild animals were present.

“Since [Kelly Miller had] good references we thought it would be a good opportunity for our community,” Huber said. “We are excited to bring Kelly Miller to Alsip. We actually had a resident inquire with us about bringing them to Alsip and they also reached out to us to see if we were able to host.”

~ Image via Kelly Miller Circus Facebook