Evening Lions bringing circus to town

The Graham Evening Lions Club will help bring the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus to town  at the Girls Softball Field Parking Lot near Young County Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Culpepper & Merriweather is in its 34th edition and has been featured throughout many media. The circus will have two scheduled performances at 2 and 4:30 p.m. with each performance being 90 minutes long.

“Years before, we had earned a little bit of money by helping the noon Lions at the carnival by selling soft drinks and picking up a few things here and there,” Lions Circus co-chairman Mike Sipes said. “(…)We were searching for a way to make some money for the club to work our projects and our programs with. This circus came along a couple of years ago out of Hugo, Okla. and we thought this might be a real good companion piece to the carnival that the noon club has. That our smaller club to have a one-day circus in towns every two years.”

Sipes said the circus has become the club’s major fundraiser for causes it supports including leader blind dogs, eyeglass recycling, Texas Lions camp and many community projects.

The circus will allow those interested to watch the raising of the big top tent and then stay for a free tour.

“This presentation offers a unique face-to-face opportunity for families, schools and interested community members to meet and learn all about the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus family and includes a walking tour of the circus grounds,” a press release states. “Learn interesting facts about our performers, the history of our show and the different species of animals in our circus family.”

For the rest of the story, see the Saturday, Sept. 28 edition of The Graham Leader.