Lots of families in the tristate area make the Hadi Shrine Circus part of their annual Thanksgiving traditions.  The circus has been thrilling audiences in Evansville since 1933.  When I was a kid and teenager, my family went to the circus every single year.  We loved it.  It truly was a part of our annual celebrations.  However, this year's event is postponed until 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prompted organizers to postpone this year's circus, which was originally scheduled to take place November 26th (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 29th.  The four-day event literally draws thousands and thousands to the Ford Center in downtown Evansville.  However, as of now, the event is officially postponed and the 87th annual event will now be bumped to November of 2021.

According to an official press release, the Hadi Shrine Temple consulted with the Vanderburgh County Health Department and "made the tough decision to postpone." Joe Vezzoso, the Executive Director of the Hadi Shrine Circus, says, "“Our top priority is the safety of children, families, and our nobility in our communities as well as the performers that would have to travel across the country.”

Here are some fun facts about the Hadi Shrine Circus:

The circus was held at Roberts Stadium for 56 years before moving to its current home at The Ford Center in downtown Evansville.

Some big names in the entertainment industry have made appearances at the circus in Evansville.  Back in the 1960s, the Three Stooges joined in for the fun.  In the 1980s, the Dukes of Hazzard were welcomed as special guests.  And, last year, the circus featured Bello Nock from America's Got Talent.

The annual Hadi Shrine Circus takes eleven months to plan and requires a cast and crew of over 1,000 people to stage it every year.  And while those talented and tireless folks won't get to see the results of their labor this year, the Hadi Shrine Circus will return in 2021!

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