Stilt walkers, acrobats and dinosaurs filled the streets of Bell Trace Senior Living Community. Members of the community sat on porches or peered out open windows to watch the circus go by, waving and cheering the circus on.
On The Stage Flight Circus Arts began its parade at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22 at through Bell Trace. The group walked along the streets and sidewalks, keeping their distance from the residents.
The group’s about 30 performers ranged from children who wore costume masks and held signs to cheer up the residents to those who were older who did tricks with hula hoops, acrobatics, walked on stilts and juggled.
The parade found open areas near the residents’ homes and made a large space for people to perform. Two people flipped and did back bends in sync. The dinosaurs danced around. At the very end, the youngest members wore butterfly wings and ran through the open area, letting their wings blow behind them in the wind.
A car followed behind the group whenever it could, taped with signs and a woman holding a sign with the phrase, “Smile bright, you are loved.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those who are older are recommended to not leave their houses and make little contact with anyone they are not living with.
Family members of the residents could also visit as long as they kept their distance. Many stayed in their cars or sat on the back of pickup trucks, watching the group and trying to wave and say hello.
