Best Bet: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey

Circus to the maximus

MOLINE, Ill. - The Greatest Show on Earth is taking its big top over the top at the I Wireless Center.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has made several giant leaps since August Rungeling's sons began staging shows in their barn in McGregor, Iowa.

While Gazette archives say early audiences could see a caged kitten “from Timbuctoo,” farm animals and the brothers swinging and walking a barn beam, today's audiences will see Bengal tigers, flying dogs, skipping elephants, a double-decker trapeze, motorcycles zooming on a high wire and inside a giant sphere.

And clowns, lots of clowns clowning around, which is what clowns do best.

“Over the Top” is billed as “a wacky and whimsical circus spectacular” with “maniacal mayhem” through a “magical top hat.” No need to take all that sitting down.

Get there an hour early and you can see what it takes to get into the act and learn a trick or two at the free all-access preshow. (Squirting flowers and giant shoes not required, but always good for a laugh.)

The rest of the show isn't free, but reserved tickets come in all price ranges, from $13, $17 and $32 to $65 for Circus Celebrity seats. Call Ticketmaster at 1-(800) 745-3000. Gathering a group for a road-trip in your own clown car? Call Deena Rupalo at (309) 277-1356.

Show times are 7 p.m. Sept. 3 and 4; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Sept. 5; 1 and 5 p.m. Sept. 6; and 1 p.m. Sept. 7.

Want to know more? Go to www.Ringling.com or www.iwirelesscenter.com

- Diana Nollen, The Gazette