The Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Department will be bringing the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus to Camp Verde on Monday and Tuesday, April 29 and 30, at the Community Field at 75 E. Hollamon Street.
The circus will feature entertainers on the tightrope and trapeze, acrobats, juggling, clowns, daredevils, bareback horse riding and big cats. There will be two 90-minute shows each night at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Residents can also see the big top being raised at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 29, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour in which they can meet the animals and learn about their routine and care. The midway will then open at 4 p.m. with pony rides, face painting, a moon bounce, a giant slide and concessions. Hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn will be available.
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus was started in 1985 by Robert Johnson, Jim Hebert and Curtis Cainan as a small show. They took turns announcing, performing and selling concessions during each performance for their first year and relied on donations, passing the hat at the end of each show. The circus now comes to Camp Verde every two years.
The majority of their animals are rescues and are all captive-bred. Their big cats are Delilah and Solomon, brother and sister golden tabby tigers, which they obtained from a roadside zoo that was shut down by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Presale discounted tickets are available for purchase through Sunday, April 28. at Bashas’ on Finnie Flat Road and at the Camp Verde Feed Store on Main Street.
For more information, visit visitcampverde.com/events or contact Camp Verde Parks and Recreation at parks@ campverde.az.gov or (928) 554-0820 ext. 3.
