Missouri Theatre hosts carnival and circus

COLUMBIA — Carnival-goers instead of vehicles filled Ninth Street between Locust and Elm streets on Saturday.

Carnival games, food and a mini Ferris wheel speckled the road for a Roaring ’20s-style carnival. The “Art of It All” Carnival continued the grand reopening celebration for the newly renovated Missouri Theatre. Cheers of excitement filled the streets while children with cotton candy or snow cones scurried from game to game. Playing throughout the day on an outdoor stage were various musical acts, including Doc Howard’s Fiddle Band.

Also on stage was the PACE Advisory Council by Teens, part of the Performing Arts in Children’s Education group. The group sang select songs from such Broadway musicals as “Oliver,” “Annie,” and “Oklahoma” said Debbie Kindle, a PACE instructor. The girls of the group wore red flapper dresses with gold trim and the boys sported a striped red and white vest, black pants and topped off the outfit with a bow tie and derby hat.

Angela Howard, Artistic Director of PACE, said, “They were marvelous.”

Before and after performing, the members of PACT passed out balloons to children or operated carnival games.

Columbia resident Julie Walker and her husband, Don, attended the carnival with their two grandchildren, Ellie and Ben.

“I think it’s just great fun for the kids,” Julie Walker said.

She and her husband agreed that the carnival and circus were a great way to celebrate the reopening. Their 9-year-old grandson Ben said, “It’s fun seeing how high I can hit it,” referring to the hammer slam. Ben, Ellie and their parents traveled from Bloomington, Ill., to partake in the carnival and see the circus.

Inside the theatre, a carnival show featuring the “Nimble Arts in the Love Show” added to the event. The refreshing air-conditioned theater gave carnival attendees a break from the midday summer heat. A matinee showing along with an evening showing provided flexibility for attendees.