A cheery Boston crowd gathered at City Hall Plaza yesterday morning to watch Mayor Thomas Menino officially welcome the Big Apple Circus to Boston, a Hub tradition for 24 years.
Menino said he was pleased to welcome the circus back to Boston as he pushed a button to raise the Big Top tent over the plaza.
“The Big Apple Circus does so much for the City of Boston,” Menino said. “The circus brings after-school programs for the kids, and circus performers go to the hospitals and go to entertain the sick kids. The circus does much to help the families and the kids.”
Although the city has experienced some brisk weather, including this past weekend’s snowfall, Menino dismissed the idea that the weather will deter some from attending the big show in the Big Top, which is set to start next weekend.
“We have had the show in rain and snow,” he said. “The show has always gone on, and we’ve got great engineers here, great maintenance people.”
Big Apple Circus Executive Director Gary Dunning assured the crowd the weather will not throw a hitch into the group’s plans.
“The weather has made it difficult so far, but the crews are working hard,” he said. “We’re just trying to put on some entertainment while keeping everyone safe and comfortable in the process.”
As if on cue, the tent began flapping violently as wind thumped against its walls, giving Dunning the chance to deliver a lesson on circus technology.
“This is what’s called a tension tent,” he said. “The wind is pushing down, putting more weight on the tent’s top. This provides for all the flapping.”
The show will open March 31 and hold 55 performances before moving out May 6, Dunning said.
“We hope to do better this year than we did last year,” he said. “It’s going well. We estimate full admission this year.”
Circus host Joel Jeske said this year’s theme was designed to convince people to take some time out of their busy lives for some leisure.
“The Big Apple Circus tries to present the modern classic circus, with a classical theme,” Jeske said. “This year’s theme is about a family that visits an amusement resort.”
“Children love the circus,” Menino told The Daily Free Press. “It is probably the most family-friendly event Boston has.”