Who doesn’t love a good circus? Clowns, acrobats, trained animals, cotton candy and did we say – clowns.

Yes, it is that time of year. The snow has melted, the robins are nesting and kids are thinking of getting out of school for summer vacation. That means it’s time for the Shrine Circus – three rings of excitement for kids of all ages.

Minot’s Ken Gillespie says this year’s Shrine Circus will be “filled with magic,” and he should know. He’s perhaps better known as Dizzy the Clown and has been wowing audiences for years. So magical it shall be.

The circus will be held in the All Seasons Arena on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot May 9-11.

The acts will be provided by the Jordan World Circus from Las Vegas. Each show will have two parts with an intermission between. A long list of acts is expected from trapeze artists to clowns to elephants and lions to jugglers to hula hoopers to motorcycles and beyond.

The All Seasons Arena has hosted the Shrine Circus for many years now, but plenty of adults remember going to the circus when it was held at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. One of the most memorable segments of circuses there was when the performers made their grand entrance through the big north doors of the auditorium. The parade of costumed artists and animals seemed endless.

Minoters have always appreciated a good circus. There are even photographs of a full circus that was held in the auditorium of Central Campus many years ago.

And before that, in the early days of Minot, circus fans made the trip to the outskirts of town – the fairgrounds – to see performances under the big top; the circus arrived by train.

Yes, Minot does like a good circus. Thanks Minot Shrine Club for another edition, sure to be a memorable one.