Here comes the circus! Circus is a magic word inspiring all sorts of exciting, colorful images. It's a theater of mind-boggling feats, elephants thundering around the rings, horses dancing, clowns cavorting and sequined costumes glittering under the lights. The circus calls to the child in each one of us. Ernest Hemingway wrote that it "is the only ageless delight that you can buy for money..."

Sarasota's cityscape has evolved with the circus, ever since "The Greatest Show on Earth" began wintering on these sparkling shores in 1927. The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus rolled into town attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and making Sarasota the number one tourist attraction in Florida. In 1960, the circus moved its Winter Quarters to Venice, where it remained until 1991.

It is rumored that John Ringling

Ca d'Zan Giovanni Lunardi, photo courtesy of the Ringling Museum of Art

won Sarasota's Bird Key and St. Armands Key in a poker game. Whatever the myths, Ringling wasn't clowning around when it came to his vision for Sarasota, then a quiet fishing and farming village. In 1924 he designed a unique shopping area encompassed by a multi-million dollar neighborhood. Statues purchased in Italy were placed along the boulevards, and hundreds of coconut palms and Australian pines were planted. In 1926, Ringling built a causeway to link St. Armands to the mainland with the help, some say, of immense show elephants. The Great Depression halted his progress, however, and Ringling died in 1936 without realizing his dream. St. Armands slept for nearly 20 years until several courageous investors once again resumed business on the key.

Today, the area is internationally known as a world-class shopping, dining and entertainment mecca. There is even a circus "Ring of Fame" in the center of St. Armands Circle, added in memory of Ringling's love for the circus. Bronze plaques honor a selection of circus greats, including master clown Lou Jacobs, the aerialist Wallenda troupe and bandmaster Merle Evans, with four circus greats added every year.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the remarkable legacy of this circus entrepreneur, art collector and financier who endowed the State of Florida with a rich cultural future. As a part of Florida State University, the 66-acre estate complex comprising the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, the Tibbals Learning Center, the Historic Asolo Theater and Cà d'Zan mansion overlooking Sarasota Bay, is the state art museum of Florida.

The Ringlings constructed the splendid Venetian Gothic mansion Cà d'Zan between 1924 and 1926. Restored to its original splendor in 2002, the Ringling

Circus Sarasota

winter residence lets visitors reflect on the Ringlings' passion for opulence and the flamboyant lifestyle they enjoyed. Marvel at marble floors and staircases, elaborate tapestry and hand-carved and gilded furniture.

When the mansion was finished, Ringling built the Museum of Art to house a veritable treasure trove of European paintings and art objects he collected. Built in the style of an Italian villa, this fine art museum includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck and other Baroque masters, along with a courtyard filled with bronze replicas of Greek and Roman sculptures… including a bronze cast of Michelangelo's "David," later adopted as the symbol of the City of Sarasota.

To honor Ringling's career, the Circus Museum was added in 1948, twelve years after his death. It was the first museum of its kind to document the rich history of the circus in the United States. Like the circus, the museum delights children of all ages with its fine collection of rare handbills and prints, wardrobe and props and all types of equipment, including hand-carved parade wagons.

Most recently, the museum has announced its intentions to take a more modern turn. This is apparent in the sleek design of the new Visitors Pavilion, which sits behind the restored Cà d'Zan gate, as well as the Tibbals Learning Center. The center doubles the size of the Circus Museum with videos, interactive displays and a Howard Brothers Miniature Circus of gigantic proportions (3,800 square feet). New galleries that house a variety of special exhibitionsare now open along with an education and conservation complex.

A Circus Town
All of the circuses in the country have ties to Sarasota and many of them are based here, including the famous Royal Hanneford Circus (941-922-4358), "the oldest name in circus," which originated in England in 1608. Here for 49 years, it is the largest circus in Sarasota and the second largest touring circus in the country, with as many as four units at a time on the road. See a full complement of performances - everything you imagine a circus to be - at Robarts Arena; the Royal Hanneford Circus performs every April or May for the Shriners.

Walker Brothers Circus (941-922-8387), a one-ring European-style circus under the big top, is based in Sarasota and travels for ten months - with its clowns, jugglers and other performers, as well as trained animals and midways. Kids can arrive early to learn more about the circus, which returns to Sarasota late October and holds a closing performance at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Walker Brothers is family owned, operated and oriented. Showfolks of Sarasota (941-359-2542), holds a benefit circus every year in early December at Robarts Sports Arena. The organization is primarily made up of circus performers, many of whom are legendary.

Cirque de Today
The magic lives on at Circus Sarasota, where world-renowned superstars amaze the young and young-at-heart. Founded in 1997, the one-ring, five-star international circus is committed to continuing the Ringling legacy, not only through thrilling performances under the big top, but also through special events and classes. Circus Sarasota performs for one month (usually in February).

And Sarasota may be the only place in the world where children are the stars of a professional caliber circus, the Sarasota Sailors Circus (941-361-6350). Founded in 1949 as a special program of Sarasota High School, the delightful display now includes younger children as well.