Family circus

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  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:35am

Clowns, trapeze artists and highwire daredevils come to town as the Wenatchee Youth Circus puts down stakes in Edmonds for three performances July 25 and 26.

The Wenatchee Youth Circus, based in the central Washington town, is one of several groups presently performing in the United States that include all the traditional circus acts — but without wild animals.

Founded by Paul K. Pugh, also known as “Guppo The Clown,” the circus is considered to be one of the four top nonprofessional troupes in the nation. Over the years the circus has played to audiences totaling over two million people in the western states from California to Alaska &in Canada, averaging 12,000 miles a year in travel.

The “Biggest Little Circus in the World” began as an after school tumbling team in early 1952. Incorporating flying trapeze and highwire acts as well as the full spectrum of professional circus fare, the troupe utilizes the talents of local Wenatchee school age boys and girls, training more than 2,800 kids in its 54 years of existence. Today, the youthful performers range in age from 3 to 18 years old with an average circus membership of 45 to 65 kids.

As a non-profit organization, the circus relies on volunteers to “keep the show rolling along.” A number of parents whose children are performers help with designing and making costumes, organizing and preparing meals or pitching in with the set-up, tear-down and driving duties.

The circus’s annual performance is sponsored by the Edmonds Exchange Club and Edmonds Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.

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