Plenty of buses and trailers will accompany the comedic clown cars when they pull into Memorial Coliseum for the 78th edition of the Mizpah Shrine Circus, Jan. 26-28.

What has become a city tradition will feature white and gold tigers, a Mongolian strongman, horsemanship, The Wheel of Death, and The Flying Trapeze. And, of course, those clowns.

This year’s circus opens at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, with three showings the following day, at 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The circus will hit the road following the finale at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

While the clowns will make you laugh and the acrobatics and animals will leave you in awe, the real reason behind the circus is a fundraiser for Mizpah Shriners of Northeast Indiana.

Money raised from the circus, with tickets being $16-$25, helps the Shriners’ mission of supporting more than 2,000 patients in Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago and Ohio. It also helps support other community events held throughout the year.

Traditionally, the opening performance of the circus is reserved for schoolchildren. So, when you notice bus upon bus in town on Friday, Jan. 26, it’s a good bet children are taking in the show.

“I bet there are 20 counties (reached),” director Steve Trump told Whatzup last year about the schools that travel to see the show. “We get people coming up here from Kokomo. We get them out of Michigan, Kokomo, Plymouth, South Bend, Elkhart. They come from Ohio, I mean everywhere. It’s crazy where we send tickets to.”

On top of the children’s day, there is also a Free Circus Fair held in the basement of the Coliseum. The free event is held for an hour before and hour after each performance, and features a petting zoo, face painting, a bounce house, and rides, although some rides and activities may have a fee.

Regardless of what draws you to the circus, you’re sure to get what you came for at the Mizpah Shrine Circus. Whether you’re looking for high-flying acrobatics, animals, or clown hijinks, you’ll find at Memorial Coliseum from Jan. 26-28.

Well, all of that plus some family memories.