advertisement

Circus troupe set to thrill Volo Museum visitors Aug. 28-29

VOLO - To say a visit to the Volo Auto Museum on Aug. 28 or 29 will be extraordinary might seem a stretch. After all, at this place of mighty Mopar meets T-Rex, there are no ordinary days. But trust us: It will be the tight wire, the acrobats' limbs and the smiles on the audience's faces that are stretching as they take in that weekend's amazing performances of the Atomic Circus.

One-hour shows by this small but mighty Chicago-based troupe will take place at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, and Sunday, Aug. 29, at the museum, 27582 Volo Village Road. Performances will be included with regular admission, said Brian Grams, museum director.

"The circus originally was invited to be part of our Carousel and Music Hall grand opening in the spring of 2020," Grams said. "That event was canceled due to Covid, but the troupe kept our contract in place, and we're looking forward to sharing these exciting shows with our guests."

The 1920s-inspired acts will include hand balancing, juggling, tight wire, hula hoops and rola bola. Adding to the fun will be dessert trucks offering cookies, ice cream, coffee and more.

"Shows will be just outside of the Carousel and Music Hall, under shade structures with bleachers set up," Grams said. "The vintage acts should pair perfectly with their backdrop.

"Just seeing the restoration our crews did on that 1920s Herschell is worth the price of admission," he continued. "They took it apart and restored it piece by piece over a two-year period. It's stunning, and we hope families come out to help us celebrate that it's finally on view with some great performances and the happiest music on earth."

Learn more about the Atomic Circus on their Facebook page.

The Volo Auto Museum - now also home to Jurassic Gardens indoor dinosaur park - is following state COVID guidelines. Visitors who are vaccinated are not required to wear masks but, due to a recent rise in cases, it is once again recommended. Those who have not been vaccinated are especially urged to mask up.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for both the auto museum and Jurassic Gardens. Museum admission is $19.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for those ages 4 and younger. Jurassic Gardens admission is $15.95 for ages 5 and up. Combo tickets also are available. For details, visit volocars.com, find Volo Auto Museum or Jurassic Gardens on Facebook, or call 815-385-3644.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.