MILWAUKEE—A large crowd stood quietly Wednesday evening as an intrepid performer stacked chairs on top of chairs and climbed to the top.  He stood precariously on his tower for several minutes and seemed to be surveying all of Veterans Park.  The Circus Parade Festival is in full swing on Milwaukee’s lakefront.

Though the parade itself is still days away, there is already much to see in the park.  Elephant rides are underway.  Camels too are taking passengers in slow, deliberate circles.  Six year old Owen road an elephant named Chang with his grandfather, renowned Milwaukee Excalibur car builder Steve Stevens.

“Were you scared at all?” asked TODAYS TMJ 4.

“I was a little,” Owen allowed.

Not far away, a five year old girl named Logan Wensel was overjoyed to be perched atop a majestic draft horse also named Logan. 

“Only the people that are named Logan can go on top of Logan,” the little girl said with an ear to ear grin.

Logan’s mother was drinking up the entire experience while reliving the Circus Parades of her youth.

“I remember big crowds,” Jennifer Wensel said as she held her daughter’s hand. “Lots of people and cotton candy and popcorn. Animals and then the animal smells.”

This year’s parade marks the first Circus Parade since 2003.  What’s more, the popular event won’t be back in 2010.  The parade costs roughly 1.5 million dollars to stage.  Circus parade coffers are now bare.  City leaders hope they can bring the event back periodically as there is nearly universal agreement that the Circus Parade is always good for Milwaukee.

“It’s too bad the companies are having the problems they have,” Stevens said referring to the struggling sponsors of the parade.  “But, it’s a real benefit for Milwaukee.  You can see by all the people who are just here tonight!”