Animals & Acrobats Set For Memorial Day Weekend in Croton

A baby bear, stilt-dancers, gargantuan puppets, and the chance to become a circus star are just some of the new highlights for this year's Memorial Day weekend classic, Animals & Acrobats at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. The new acts join returning favorites including Atka, the ambassador wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center, and A Different Spin, who juggle objects and comedy.

In America's early days, fire jugglers, tumbling acrobats, rope walkers, magicians - indeed, clever characters of all sorts - used to travel the countryside as a ragged band of entertainers, setting up shop at various locations. This is how the traditional American circus began, and it's the inspiration for Animals & Acrobats, which takes place May 28-30, 10-5pm at Van Cortlandt Manor, a Historic Hudson Valley site.

"We put so much into this weekend that I'm sure we rival the best traveling circuses from years gone by," said Althea Corey, site director of Van Cortlandt Manor.

A Memorial Day weekend tradition, the event features many new acts this year, all led by Ringmaster Jonathan Kruk.

Visitors who purchase tickets in advance online can get free popcorn for everyone under 18 in their party.

Animals & Acrobats features continuous performances. New acts include:

* Boston Circus Guild - This professional troupe offers a wide-range of circus magic including high-flying acrobatics, stilt-dancing (not walking, dancing!), and gargantuan puppets who roam the crowd. Contortionists who squeeze themselves into the tightest of spaces round out the group's roster.

* Wildlife Expert Andrew Simmons - Andrew Simmons, a wildlife expert who specializes in predators, will bring a baby bear cub for all to see. His presentation focuses on the importance of conservation.

* Circus Arts Camp (Hartsdale, NY) - Kids can learn to walk on a low-wire, ride a unicycle, juggle, spin plates and walk on stilts!

* Museum of Curiosities - Visitors can be awed by a giant mastodon, an Invisible Lady, and a Cabinet of Natural History featuring taxidermy specimens on loan from Teatown Lake Reservation.
Returning favorites include: A Different Spin, who were formed at Vassar College and meld juggling, daring acrobatics, and comedy; and Two by Two Zoo, a conservation group that educates the public about fascinating wildlife. Hopping kangaroos, flying lemurs, hilarious monkeys, pythons, parrots, and goats are some of their traveling stars.

The Wolf Conservation Center returns with ambassador wolf Atka. Other performers include Jennifer Pena's birds-of-prey demonstration Flight of the Raptor; The Acrobrats; slack rope walker Dikki Ellis; Chris Yerlig as Hoopoe the Mime; fire juggler Will Shaw; storyteller April Armstrong; Fred Greenspan's Punch & Judy Shows; magician Bob Olson; storytelling, dance, and olden music by Bells & Motley; fortune-telling by mystic Glenda Hughes; and musicians Jim Keyes & Cristal Stevens, and Margaret Vetare & Bill Ochs.

Geordane's of Irvington will provide picnic food and beverages. New this year, visitors can order an entire picnic in advance online. (Orders must be placed by May 23.) Also new this year for the sweet tooth is homemade ice cream from Blue Pig of Croton, featuring ingredients from Hudson Valley sources.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children 5-17, free for children under five and HHV members.

Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue (off Route 9) in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. Take the Croton Point Avenue exit from Route 9 and follow the signs. For information: 914-631-8200, www.hudsonvalley.org.

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