LEWISTON — On another day, a trio of agitated tigers and a 7-foot lion prowling the Androscoggin Bank Colisee might be cause for alarm.
But not on Friday; and not Saturday, either. The Kora Shrine Circus is back in town with its high-flying, lion-taming, back-flipping delights.
It got under way Friday afternoon and the Colisee filled up fast. Faces smeared with cotton candy. Keystone Cops mingling with kids holding plastic swords. Clowns posing for pictures with children not old enough to talk but plenty old enough to gape and goggle.
“People are just getting out of work and coming by with their kids,” said Patches the clown, who goes by the name Patrick Penley in his downtime. “It’s going to be a good day. How can it get any better than this?”
Before the first trapeze artist climbed to the roof or the first tiger was sent to circle at center stage, the kids were already wide-eyed and seeking out their favorite circus treats.
“Snow cones,” said Lillian Huntington, a 5-year-old girl wearing bunny ears. “I love snow cones. Every kind they have.”
On the other side of an aisle crammed with balloon animals, lighted wands and stuffed monkeys in banana hats, 3-year-old Dominic Davis was trying to look everywhere all at once. His favorite part of the circus?
“Animals,” Dominic said. “I want to see the doggies.”
Grown-ups will tell you they’re here for the kids, but you can see a gleam of nostalgia in every eye. Here is a man in his 50s trying on one funny hat after another. Here is a young couple walking hand in hand and feeding each other sheets of cotton candy. Here is a father of two throwing popcorn in the air and catching it in his mouth.
And the clowns are always in a good mood.
“I’m catching a pie in the face later,” said Patches, in the tone of a man announcing a big promotion. “I can’t wait.”
For Barbara Huntington, mother of Lillian, it wasn’t hard to decide on her favorite part of the circus. It wasn’t the dancing poodles, the elephants or the man on the flying trapeze. It wasn’t the clowns, the lions or the crazy, winding music.
“My daughter’s smile,” Barbara said. “That’s my favorite part.”
Kora Shrine Circus at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee
Saturday, shows at 2, 5 and 7 p.m.
Ticket Prices: Adults, $10; children under 12, $5; reserved seating, $12
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