The Great Circus Parade Returned To Milwaukee for 2009. Note that the Great Circus Parade will NOT be back for 2010. Nobody knows when there will be enough money to do it again.

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At 1:30 pm, on July 12, 2009, the Great Circus Parade returned to downtown Milwaukee. The executive director of the Circus World Museum Foundation, Steve Freese, said that it would be the largest historic re-enactment in the country. The Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee was cancelled after the 2003 parade because of the lack of funds. Fifty+ colorful horse-drawn, antique circus wagons were featured in the parade. Spectators were able to view the Circus Wagons, before the parade, at the lakefront show-grounds. The Circus Wagons were drawn by 250 horses and 30 bands marched and played for the crowds that lined the streets. Sometimes people were six deep. Ernest Borgnine was the chief parade clown and he said that he saw nothing but miles and miles of smiles. Borgnine is 92 this year.

The Circus World Museum is the major participant in the Great Circus Parade, which was held in Milwaukee in 1963, and was held in various cities between 1985 and 2005, primarily Milwaukee (1985-2003) and Baraboo, Wisconsin (2004-2005).

Consider the Astor Hotel for your Circus Parade stay.

The 2009 Great Circus Parade Festival

Jul 8, 2009 - Jul 11, 2009 The Great Circus Parade Festival and Showgrounds will be located on Milwaukee's Lakefront. Live tented performances of the Kelly Miller Circus, food vendors, petting zoo, antique bandorgans, animal rides, circus wagon displays, a kiddy circus train ride, plus hundreds of horses preparing for The Great Circus Parade on July 12. On Saturday, July 11, there will be practice runs with the horse teams hitched to the actual wagons they will pull in The Great Circus Parade.

Wednesday, July 8
Showgrounds open from noon to 10 pm. Kelly Miller Circus
performance at 8 pm.

Thursday, July 9
Showgrounds open from 9 am to 10 pm. Kelly Miller Circus
performances at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm and 8 pm.

Friday, July 10
Showgrounds open from 9 am to 10 pm. Kelly Miller Circus
performances at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm and 8 pm.

Saturday, July 11
Showgrounds open from 9 am to 10 pm. Kelly Miller Circus performances at 10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm and 8 pm. Practice runs with wagons and teams begin at 9 am.

Sunday, July 12
Showgrounds closed to the public during the Great Circus Parade.
The parade steps out at 1:30 pm.