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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Some 60 children ages 3 to 11 sat anxiously in their seats Monday afternoon, waiting for the start of the 68th annual Irem Shrine Circus at the Kingston Armory.</p><p>The children attend Mountain Top Kids Day Care, and they were enjoying everything the circus had to offer, even before Ringmaster Billy Martin opened the show.</p><p>As a delightful bonus, they got to see a local woman perform in the circus &#8212; Jessica Smallwood, 29, of Dallas. She has performed as an aerialist in the circus for two years. A graduate of Wyoming Seminary and Marywood University, Smallwood said she &#8220;found a passion&#8221; in the circus.</p><p>As Smallwood went to her dressing room to get ready for the show, the day care kids were sampling cotton candy, candy apples, popcorn, hot dogs, slushies and some were holding stuffed animals. When asked what they were hoping to see, they shouted, &#8220;tigers, elephants, monkeys, clowns and puppies.&#8221;</p><p>About nine adults accompanied the children to supervise. They said it was going to be a fun day, and they said the kids look forward to the circus every year.</p><p>As show time neared, most of the seats in the Kingston Armory were filled. Children, with ear-to-ear smiles, were riding two elephants at one end of the building and camels at the other end.</p><p>For Smallwood, performing in front of her hometown crowd was exciting.</p><p>&#8220;I love coming home,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And to be a part of this great show with all of these performers who have dedicated years and lifetimes of hard work means a lot to me.&#8221;</p><p>Smallwood said she was aware of the animal-rights protesters outside, but she was quick to say that she has never seen any circus animals abused in any way.</p><p>&#8220;We always do the best by the animals,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Unfortunately, the people who scream the loudest don&#8217;t necessarily know what they are talking about.&#8221;</p><p>John Richards, service chairman for Irem Temple; Joe Herbert, circus chairman; and Lynn Sheehan, president of the Uniformed Units of Irem Temple, said their organization depends on the funds generated by the circus.</p><p>&#8220;Proceeds from the circus pay for all of our insurances, our uniforms and all expenses for things like our string band,&#8221; Richards said.</p><p>Sheehan added that the money raised by the circus keeps the Irem Temple afloat, allowing it to do all the community work it does throughout the year.</p><p>&#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t exist if we didn&#8217;t have the circus,&#8221; Sheehan said.</p><p>Richard and Herbert said ticket sales have been going good, but they are slightly behind last year. They pointed to the circus being a little later than usual and the mild weather as two reasons for slower sales, but they expect them to pick up as the circus continues all week.</p><p><strong>&#8216;Making history here&#8217;</strong></p><p>Ringmaster Martin is now the owner of the circus. He said he loves coming to Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s so much history here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is the 68th year for the Irem Shrine Circus, and we are glad to be a part of it. And this building is so historic, too. It&#8217;s just a great place and a great organization. We want to continue to keep making history here.&#8221;</p><p>Martin was especially glad to have a local woman performing. He said Smallwood is an outstanding circus performer, and he couldn&#8217;t wait to see her show off in front of her hometown fans.</p><p>Smallwood previously performed with the Big Apple Circus.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Children ride an elephant before the Irem Shrine Circus at the 109th Field Artillery Armory in Wilkes-Barre on Monday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Children ride an elephant before the Irem Shrine Circus at the 109th Field Artillery Armory in Wilkes-Barre on Monday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A Hula Hoop performer entertains the crowd. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>A Hula Hoop performer entertains the crowd. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">An aerial acrobat performs at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus4-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>An aerial acrobat performs at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Darreany Echevarria, 9, of Hazleton, had her face painted as part of the festivities. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus5-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Darreany Echevarria, 9, of Hazleton, had her face painted as part of the festivities. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A performer at the Irem Shrine Circus on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus3-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>A performer at the Irem Shrine Circus on Monday. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Performers juggle clubs at the Irem Shrine Circus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL041817iremcircus6-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Performers juggle clubs at the Irem Shrine Circus. </caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Dallas native an aerialist</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>About the circus</strong></p><p>Tickets range from $8 to $20. Showtimes for the rest of the week: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 1:30 and 7 p.m.</p><p>The show lasts approximately two hours with a 15-minute intermission. This year&#8217;s program features $10 animal rides, including elephants. A $2 program book includes a chance to win a bicycle or $25 gift card.</p><p>For tickets, call the circus office at 570-714-0783.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Irem Shrine Circus offer fun for kids plus a local performer