Culpepper & Merriweather Circus in Whitehall June 23

For 32 weeks of the year, Culpepper & Merriweather circus brings an action-packed 90-minute show to over 200 towns in 17 different states! C&M Circus specializes in affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Our show is truly enjoyable for children of all ages! Bring the toddlers, kids, teenagers, AND Grandparents! The circus, brought to you by the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Events Office, will be at the Whitehall recreation complex Thursday, June 23 with showings at 5 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets are available at the Whitehall Ledger, Whitehall Chamber office, and several other locations throughout town.

Every morning at 9:30 AM, C&M Circus offers a free tour of the circus grounds to the public which includes watching our tent raising. You'll get to meet their animals up close and personal, learn about their routine and care and get lots of information about the show's daily operations. C&M welcomes large groups to attend tent raising including daycares, elderly care facilities, and schools. Please contact the Whitehall Chamber at 406-287-2260 or whitehallmtchamber@gmail.com if you're interested in bringing a large group to see the tent razing.

C&M Circus is thrilled to bring you a brand new show for 2022! From beautiful animals to high-flying aerialists the show truly has something for everyone! The show is 90 minutes of fast-paced fun; you won't want to miss America's last traditional Big Top Circus.

New for 2022:

• Brandon Ayala on the Rola Bola

• The Loyal Family 10th Generation Bareback Riders

• Kelly Leeth on Aerial Silks

• Logan Jimenez with his Cockatoos

• The Keeth Duo on Aerial Cradle

• Plus many of your returning favorites!

C&M is proud to share our lives with animals both in and out of the Circus ring. All of their animals are captive-bred and the majority are rescues. They are licensed and inspected by USDA and the animals are seen by a veterinarian every 30 days by a team of world-class vets all over the country.

All of their animals are trained using positive reinforcement. In the show, you will see animals rewarded with their favorite treats for performing behaviors. No two animal acts are ever the same! The animals have the choice of which behaviors they feel like doing. Some days that means they do everything asked of them, and other days they feel like making their trainers look a little silly.

Culpepper & Merriweather Great Combined Circus had very humble beginnings. In 1985, Robert Johnson, Jim Hebert, and Curtis Cainan started a small show. The three alternated announcing, performing, and selling concessions during each performance for the first year. They didn't sell tickets, instead of relying on donations received from passing a hat at the end of each show. Oblivious to everyone in the business who told them they could never succeed, they were able to gradually add employees, equipment, and animals over the years.

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus was based in Queen Creek, AZ until 2001, when new ownership moved its base of operations to Hugo, OK, deep in the beautiful Red River Valley. Hugo is known as "Circus City, USA" for a good reason. We are the 20th circus to call Hugo home since 1941, and the third active circus currently operating from the seat of Choctaw County.