HARRISBURG - For perhaps the first time in city history, an enormous animal with floppy ears and huge trunk will stop by for a visit Sunday.
That’s right. All five tons of it. Not alone, of course.
The animal, a friendly African elephant is part of Big Top Circus. The circus will visit Ellis Larson Park for a performance on June 22.
But the question remains, has an elephant ever set foot, a big one at that, inside Harrisburg before?
“Not that I can ever remember,” Steve Becker, a city councilor said over the phone. “I’ve been here since 1995. I got a guy that lived there for 20 years and he said he’d never seen one.
“The kids should have a good time. But If you’d ask me if I’ve seen an elephant in Harrisburg, probably not, probably not,” Becker added with a chuckle.
The elephant will be saddled up and available for rides starting as early as around 1 p.m. Sunday. Pony rides are also an option for youngsters.
A show consisting of acrobats, clowns, magicians and other circus performers starts at 3 p.m. and will last about 90 minutes, said Jesse Medrano, circus promoter.
“They’ll love the elephant,” Medrano said. “He’s one of the few elephants that I’ve seen that’s very active. He’s very playful, a loving elephant.”
The cost is $14 for adults.
Each paid adult can take two youngsters for free. The children have to be age 14 or younger, Medrano said. Signs advertising the event can be found in area businesses.
The Harrisburg city council approved the circus visit at a recent meeting.
The park is located just south of Maple Street and west of Grand Avenue.
“I just hope it’s a family orientated event,” city councilor Julie Bowen said. “That it will be fun and something different for the families of Harrisburg to do.”
Harrisburg will be the circus’ first stop in South Dakota before heading to Worthing and later Bridgewater, Medrano said.
“It’s a small show but for its size the audience will be impressed,” he said.