The 135th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey circus rolls into the Everett Events Center for nine performances beginning Wednesday.
Beginning with the arrival of a 53-car-long steel coach housing artists and animals of The Greatest Show on Earth, the circus kicks off with its traditional Grand Animal Walk. The procession features all the show’s animal performers as they depart the train and head to the Everett Events Center.
Before the show, visitors can attend an Animal Open House beginning 90 minutes before each performance. The behind-the-scenes event offers up-close photo opportunities and a chance to ask questions of animal experts. Meet some of the animals and learn from handlers how training a personal pet isn’t much different than training an elephant.
Visitors can also attend the All-Access Preshow one hour before each show. Mix and mingle with acrobats, aerialists and animals. Find out what it takes for performers to stay in shape by participating in a pre-show warm-up with circus performers.
A new ringmaster, Tyron McFarlan, leads the interactive, three-ring circus, with animal displays, clown capers and new production numbers. More than 100 human and animal performers, a live band and an original score add to the experience.
Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sept. 17. Matinees are at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 17, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sept. 18.
All pre-show activities are free with circus tickets.
Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival: This year’s 40th annual Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival theme, “Spotlight on History,” celebrates the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty.
The three-day festival begins today at Rosehill Community Center and features a grand parade and a children’s parade, a juried fine arts show and a salmon bake. Other events include festival favorites such as arts and crafts booths, a pancake breakfast, a fishing derby, children’s activities, demonstrations and contests.
Stan Jones, Tulalip Council President, will act as grand marshal for the grand parade, which is at 11 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, tribes will arrive by canoe at Mukilteo Lighthouse Park as special guests at the salmon bake.
Visitors to the festival can listen to live music, watch performers and purchase food from various vendors.
Saturday’s events end with fireworks at dusk.
Free shuttle service from Olympic View Middle School, 2602 Mukilteo Speedway, to the Rosehill Community Center runs from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Additional stops are at the Mukilteo Lighthouse and Point Elliott Art Center.
For information, visit www.mukilteofestival.org.
Moonlight Beach Adventure: Find out what lives in the depths of the Puget Sound at the annual Moonlight Beach Adventure on Saturday at Marina Beach in Edmonds.
Presented by the Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department’s Discovery Programs, an evening interpretive program provides beach visitors with an opportunity to see and touch live creatures.
From 7 to 9 p.m., join beach naturalists and docents to learn about wildlife brought to the shore by volunteer scuba divers. Touch tanks offer children and adults a chance to see the dwellers of the depths up close.
Some of the animals visitors may see are moon snails, sea anemones, nudibranches (also called sea slugs) and crabs. All creatures are returned to their habitat after the event.
Visitors are urged to leave dogs at home, to dress for chilly weather and to bring a flashlight.
The event is free, and registration is not required.
Family fun
The Greatest Show On Earth: Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey presents the 135th edition of The Greatest Show On Earth
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17; 1 and 5 p.m. Sept. 18
Where: Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett
Tickets: $13 and $18, $30 VIP, $45 front row, $75 circus celebrity
Tickets, information: 866-332-8499, www.ringling.com, www.everettevents center.com
Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival: The 40th annual festival begins today
When: 2 p.m. to midnight today, 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo
Information: www.mukilteofestival.org
Moonlight Beach Adventure: Annual evening interpretive program offers a chance to see sea life up close.
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Marina Beach, south end of Admiral Way, Edmonds
Information: 425-771-0227
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