Two of Baraboo’s signature summer draws, live shows at Circus World Museum and the Big Top Parade, have been canceled this year in response to ongoing coronavirus concerns.
Museum Director Scott O’Donnell said it’s the first time in more than 60 years that the Water Street grounds won’t feature acrobats, clowns, exotic animals and other circus performances over the 2020 season.
“It is a heartbreaking decision to have to make,” he said. It was necessary for safety reasons and the difficulty in predicting how long each phase of the Badger Bounce Back plan, the proposal outlining when public life in Wisconsin can resume, will take, he said.
“It’s heartbreaking in the sense of how it will affect our performer families, of course, because this is their livelihood … So they will be, like so many Americans, forced to search for other avenues of income for the year ahead,” O’Donnell said. “It’s a difficult decision for so many of our guests and our beloved community that embraces our wonderful circus heritage.”
Museum open
Patrons will be able to visit the museum to view three new exhibits starting, at the earliest, July 1.
“We’re still filled to the gills with an amazing collection of artifacts and we still tell the wonderful story of our state and our nation’s circus heritage,” he said. “We still have three brand-new exhibits that we had created to share with our guests this year, and those that come will be able to enjoy those. It just won’t have the living history component for 2020.”
Dave SaLoutos, ringmaster and marketing director, said the biggest exhibit features wardrobe pieces from The Big Apple Circus of New York. The second, tying into 2020 as a presidential election year, looks at the history of U.S. presidents at the circus.
The third new exhibit is a tribute to Circus World Museum’s own history.
“The one piece of history we never cover in circus history is our own, so we’ve got a wonderful exhibit that explores a lot of the things, the backstory, behind Circus World,” SaLoutos said.
The museum won’t have any face painting or other usual activities that require physical contact, O’Donnell said.
When it reopens, O’Donnell said he’s planning to have personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, available for staff and guests. It also will implement “enhanced cleaning protocols,” capacity limits based on state guidance and social distancing practices, he said.
“The safety of our guests, our staff and our community are our No. 1 priority, and that is what will guide every decision that we make here at Circus World,” O’Donnell said.
Big Top Parade
Organizers announced Friday their decision to cancel the eighth annual Big Top Parade and Circus Celebration, an event that draws around 30,000 people to downtown Baraboo each summer, according to a Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce news release. It was originally planned for July 18.
“We truly didn’t want to cancel this spectacular event,” organizer Nanci Caflisch said in the release. “But safety must come first.”
The organizing committee, supported by Circus World and the chamber, will start planning the 2021 parade and circus-themed festival early, the release said.
Financial impact
Summer programming typically brings the largest portion of Circus World’s earned revenue, which accounts for the largest portion of its budget, though the state and museum foundation also provide funds. Circus World is one of 12 state historic sites.
“There’s no doubt that this will be a year of historic financial loss for Circus World,” O’Donnell said.
Anticipating those losses, he said the museum is looking at its finances cautiously and, with Wisconsin Historical Society leadership, considering how they can be “as lean” as possible while maintaining staff and opening for visitors.
Looking to 2021
O’Donnell said he hopes to resume summer programming next year, bringing the performers and “Go West Under the Big Top” theme that was planned for this year. He noted that social distancing measures and capacity limits might still be in place in 2021.
Though cancelling live performances this year is “kind of devastating to my soul,” SaLoutos said he remains hopeful of the future.
“Circus is something that you build on hope and optimism and then you go to achieve these incredible dreams and bring them to life for people,” SaLoutos said. “So that positive spirit is something that we’re going to carry forward and it’s going to get us through this pandemic. We’re all going to come out on the other side even more amazing than ever before.”
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
072419-bara-news-circus-world-01 (copy)

Circus World performers finish their 1960s-themed show June 19 under the big top in Baraboo.
Circus World, Baraboo

Circus roots run deep in Baraboo and this site – once the winter grounds of the famed Ringling Bros. Circus – preserves Wisconsin’s role in creating big top spectacles. The museum boasts a huge collection of circus wagons and memorabilia. But a highlight for most is the live circus shows that take place under the big top.
Location: 550 Water St., Baraboo.
Hours: Through Sept. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with shows beginning at 10:15 a.m. Complete show schedule available on museum’s website. Sept. 2 through Oct. 31 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Closed for winter season.
Admission: $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and $9.95 for children ages 5 to 11
More information: 608-356-8341 or www.circusworldbaraboo.org
Costumes

Circus World Museum volunteer Gretchen Roltgen looks through costumes for Saturday's Big Top Parade in the museum's wardrobe building in Baraboo July 12.
Parade costumes

Costumes for Saturday's 20 Big Top Parade await their wearers in the Circus World Museum's wardrobe building in Baraboo Friday.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-09

Adilson Fernandes performs a handstand on a stack of chairs roughly 30 feet above the ground June 19 at Circus World in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-11 (copy)

Tiger handler Ryan Holder pets one of his big cats June 19 at Circus World.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-07

Ivan Arestov rolls around on a cyr wheel June 19 during a big top performance at Circus World.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-08

Circus World Executive Director Scott O’Donnell fills in as a clown for Ryan Combs, who had a family emergency, during the big top performance June 19 in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-06

Noel Aguilar juggles hats June 19 during the big top show at Circus World in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-10

Noel Aguilar positions himself to catch a hat thrown from the audience on his head June 19 during the big top show at Circus World in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-12

Adilson Fernandes performs June 19 on the “wheel of destiny” under the big top at Circus World in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-02

Tiger handler Ryan Holder dips Luri's paw in orange finger paint June 19 to make a print of the tiger's paw on a small canvas. Holder "finger paints" with the tiger before each show and sells the paw prints in Circus World Museum's gift shop, donating the proceeds to conservation efforts for wild tigers in Indonesia.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-05

Noel Aguilar juggles June 19 during the big top show at Circus World in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-03

A child watches elephants perform June 19 under the big top at Circus World Museum in Baraboo.
072419-bara-news-circus-world-04

Merrill, of Mad Dog and Merrill's "Midwest Grill'n," feeds a banana to Lisa June 19 while Mad Dog sits atop Traci at Circus World in Baraboo. The two were filming an episode of their television show at the state historic site.
Royal Hanneford Circus worker Robert Parker

Royal Hanneford Circus worker Robert Parker of Sarasota, Florida operates winches to raise the big top Saturday at Circus World.
Big top

Workers raise the big top Saturday at Circus World.
Adrian Poema

Royal Hanneford Circus Producer Adrian Poema works to raise the big top Saturday at Circus World.
Royal Hanneford Circus tent

Sunlight peeks through an opening in the top of the Royal Hanneford Circus tent as it is raised Saturday at Circus World in Baraboo
Big top

Workers raise the big top Saturday at Circus World.
032619-bara-news-Dumbo-01

This 1963 photo shows the arrival of three carloads of circus wagons in Chicago en route to Baraboo. Walt Disney Studios gifted the nine wagons from California to Circus World.
032619-bara-news-Dumbo-03

Walt Disney stands beside the Carl Hagenbeck Wagon No. 65, talking to an unidentified man, circa 1960. He later donated the wagon along with several others to Circus World in Baraboo.
031519-bara-news-circus

Curator of Circus History Jennifer Cronk hangs a poster for the re-worked "Trumpets of Paper" exhibit at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, which opens Monday for its spring season.
7th annual big top parade

The Bug Tussel Wireless mascot greets parade audience members on Saturday at the Big Top Parade Circus celebration in downtown Baraboo.
7th annual big top parade

A parade participant hands out high fives to audience members Saturday at the Big Top Parade in downtown Baraboo.
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
7th annual big top parade

7th annual big top parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade

2019 Baraboo Big Top Parade
Circus World bridge

Circus World in Baraboo closed for winter on Oct. 31 and will reopen March 16 for the spring season. The summer season opens May 15.
Circus World

Snow covers the grounds at Circus World in Baraboo on Nov. 8. The museum closed for winter on Oct. 31. It was scheduled to reopen Monday for the spring season but will remain closed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Follow Susan Endres on Twitter @EndresSusan or call her at 745-3506.