For more than a century, circuses and carnivals have played an important role in the history of American entertainment. As early as 1770, equestrian shows featuring acrobatic and comic acts were performed in England. The concept gained popularity and quickly spread to the United States, where Philadelphia hosted a circus-like show in 1785. Traveling menageries featuring various exotic animals also became popular around that same time.

A century later, around 1880, promoter P.T. Barnum partnered with James Bailey to form Barnum & Bailey, whose three-ring circus show became an American institution. In 1907, the company was bought by the Ringling brothers of Wisconsin. The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus is now the oldest, largest, and most famous traveling circus in the United States.

Circuses typically include daily shows featuring human and animal performers. Animals typically seen at a circus include elephants, tigers, lions, camels, and horses. However, "animal-free" circuses have recently gained popularity and support, particularly from those who are concerned that captive animals may be abused or neglected. Human performers at a circus often include clowns, tightrope walkers, acrobats, and those who perform fire breathing, sword swallowing, and motorcycle stunts. Many circuses hold at least two performances per day, usually within the confines of a large tent known as the "big top."

Traveling carnivals are similar to circuses, but they typically do not have a tent show. Instead, carnivals feature amusement park rides, such as merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, and small roller coasters. Carnivals also typically include a gallery of skill games, where patrons pay for a chance to win stuffed toys and other prizes. Both circuses and carnivals sell cotton candy, popcorn, peanuts, lemonade, and similar snacks.

Today, there are an estimated 50 or 60 circuses across the United States, and over 300 carnivals. Collectively, they are staffed by a total of more than 300,000 people, most of whom perform between 48 and 50 weeks of the year, usually traveling to a new location every week. Although circuses and carnivals used railroads in the old days, nowadays they travel in caravans of semi-trailer trucks, campers, and RVs. No matter where you live in America, chances are you will be visited by a circus or a carnival at least once or twice each year.

By Jeff Richards