Circus parade time, route yet to be determined

Expect elephants, tigers and other animals in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to parade Sept. 2 through Kent streets.

The actual time and route of the parade most likely will not be released until Aug. 31 or Sept. 1, according to Jennifer Rice, a circus promoter.

The circus performs Sept. 3-7 at the ShoWare Center.

The circus brings its own train into town and must find a safe spot to unload the animals.

“We are at the mercy of the train system, so we don’t know much about the final parade logistics until the afternoon before or sometimes the morning of the parade,” Rice said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Rice said residents shouldn’t expect the traditional parade where people line the streets and set up chairs. Police will block off streets to traffic and help escort the animals through town to the arena on West James Street.

“Dedicated fans who wait around will definitely see something,” Rice wrote. “But as a mom myself, I would not promise my kids they’ll see elephants walking down the street at a particular time because it could be a long wait for a young child.”

Besides the elephants and tigers, the circus includes 10 horses, four miniature horses, five zebras and 33 dogs.

Ringling Bros. officials must find a place to park the circus train for the five-day stay in Kent. The animals will walk to the arena from wherever the train is parked and stay at the arena for five days.

Eight shows are scheduled at the ShoWare, including 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3-4; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5; 1 and 5 p.m. Sept. 6; and 1 p.m. Sept. 7, which also is Labor Day.

Tickets are $75 for celebrity seats, $45 for front row, $30 for VIP, $20 for lower level and $15 for upper level.

To buy tickets, go to www.showarecenter.com, call 253-856-6999 or visit the ShoWare Center box office, 625 W. James St.

The Kent Reporter will post information on the parade time and route when it becomes available.