When the Columbus Fire Department booked the Carson and Barnes circus for next Thursday night, they were primarily looking for a fundraiser for the department. They had no idea the event would lead to nationwide publicity.
Lt. Jerrod Fox, public information officer for CFD, announced this week that "Good Morning America" chose Columbus as a place to catch up with Carson and Barnes as they do taping for a weekend segment on "the traditional American circus" which is scheduled to be shown in October.
"They picked Columbus because they heard 'Public Enemies' was shot here," Fox said. He said another factor was that Carson and Barnes has been here before, "so they know the set-up."
"They said it was (that) the location is a beautiful historic town," said Fox.
Firefighters are getting excited as they prepare for this fun fundraising event, which they hope will reach people throughout the area.
The circus tent is the size of a football field, and holds 900 people per side, or 1,800 per show.
Fox said his goal is to sell 500 adult tickets and 700 children's tickets. When the department hosted the circus in 2003, about 900 people attended the two shows combined.
The department gets a percentage of all advanced ticket sales, but nothing from anything sold on the day of the event - tickets, food or anything else.
Their proceeds will go for advanced training, and the department is hoping to raise $2,500.
"That would do a lot of extra training for us firefighters," Fox said. "That would save the city and the taxpayers some extra money."
Fox noted that many free children's tickets have been sent out, but that people must realize that those tickets cover only one child with one paid adult.
"Make sure to come get your advance tickets so you can save $4," said Fox.
The show runs just under two hours, and the two shows are mostly the same.
Tickets are available from Farmers & Merchants Union Bank, Sharrow Drugs, the Columbus Journal, the fire department or any firefighter.
"I'd like to thank our poster sponsors - FMU Bank," Fox said. He also thanked the ticket sponsors - Caldwell Lumber, Julie's Java House, J & B Service, the Cardinal Ale House & Bowl, NAPA Auto Parts and Subway.
Fox is hoping to get Chief Randy Koehn and service corps president Darrin Miller to ride elephants before the opening performance at 4:30 p.m. The second show will be at 7:30 p.m.
"There is a huge display of animals to see beforehand," Fox stated. He said they would include a hippopotamus, lions, tigers, elephants and zebras in the circus' zoo.
The tent will be set up some time after 9 a.m. People will also be able to see the animals in the morning.
"They would like us to get as many kids and adults to the set-up of the tent on circus day morning as possible," Fox said, noting that "Good Morning America" will be taping this aspect of the process.
There are several contests taking place in town in advance of the circus. Sharrow Drugs is holding a contest through Sunday whereby people can guess the weight of Susie, a full-grown Asian elephant, and win a pass for up to six people.
The library is also giving free tickets away as part of a read-to-earn contest, and the fire department is picking 20 winners on Sunday who will each get to take an elephant ride.
"I think it will be exciting," Fox said. "It is a win-win for Carson and Barnes and the city of Columbus and the Columbus Fire Department."