Full-Day of Family Activities Celebrate the Circus at the Ringling Museum

Sarasota, FL — January 3, 2008 —Visitors will enjoy a full-day of family activities celebrating the circus at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

            For the price of regular museum admission, the entire family will have opportunities to see how circus models are built, walk the low wire, experience live circus music, interact with clowns and learn about the art of clowning.  

The schedule of events is as follows:

• Circus Model Builders Exhibition, All Day, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

      More than 40 circus model builders from throughout the United States display their own model pieces.

• Howard Tibbals Demonstration, 1-4 p.m. only

            Howard Tibbals, builder of the Howard Bros. Model Circus, the world’s largest miniature circus, will answer questions and describe how he created the tented city on display at the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center.

• Circus Sarasota activities, 1- 3 p.m. only

            Clowns and artists from Circus Sarasota will mingle with visitors, instructing them in such arts as stilt walking, juggling balls and walking across the low wire.

• Circus Wagons Handz-On Family Program, 1-3 p.m. only

            Children and their adult partners will study circus wagons and make their own collage wagons.

• Windjammers Unlimited Concert, 2-3 p.m. only

            Guests will hear the Windjammers perform early 20^th-century circus music in the Museum of Art’s Courtyard. Windjammers is a society dedicated to preserving and performing the music of circus bands from the early 20th century.

            Activities are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and reservations are not required. Admission to the museum is $19 for adults, $16 for seniors, $6 for students and teachers and free for children 5 and under. Tickets may be purchased in the Visitors Pavilion of the museum.  For more information visit www.ringling.org.

            This program is funded in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Institutions Program; and in part by the Les and Judy Smout Foundation.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, in its affiliation with Florida State University, is the largest museum/university complex in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Tibbals Learning Center, the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
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General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca' d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $5.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit Ringling.org for more information.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Ca' d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museums; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
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