Offer a “good luck” to Paul Pugh and he’ll answer back, it’s not luck, it’s practice.
During the past nearly 60 years, Pugh has presided over a lot of practice by the Wenatchee Youth Circus, not to mention the uncounted hours of putting it up and taking it down.
For about a third of that time, he has set up for his troupe’s high-flying and low-flying acts at Liberty Park for Renton River Days.
“They like to have us back. We like to come back,” Pugh said Tuesday as he watched the final pieces of rigging go into place.
His troupe, about 40 strong, will perform two shows Wednesday, at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6 p.m., for Kids’ Day. Tickets are $1 a piece.
Pugh says he likes the River Days date because the Renton crowds are “really large.”
This is the 19th appearance of the youth circus at River Days. Early in the run, one year was missed, because, as Pugh described it, River Days organizers wanted “to go in a different direction.”
The circus was back the next year.
The youth circus is fresh off an appearance at Des Moines’ 50th birthday bash. It arrived at Liberty Park Monday morning.
Breaking down the circus takes about two hours. Putting it up again takes about 4 1/2 hours, along with a lot of pounding.
The rigging for the aerial acts is anchored in place by car and truck axles. It’s not easy pounding them into four feet of Liberty soil. Just ask assistant trainer Brandon Brown.
“Oh, yah,” it’s hard, he said, breathless after pounding four axles about four feet into the ground to anchor a tight rope.
Not far away, high in the air, some of the aerialists are preparing for Wednesday’s shows.
Members of the troupe and sometimes their parents stay in tents or RVs at Liberty Park. All the performers are volunteers; the driver of the circus truck is paid. The performers range from age 3 (a parent has to be on hand) to 19.
Pugh himself is no stranger to the circus life. Sewn into his casual shirt is the name Guppo. Yes, he is a clown; he worked for the famed Clyde Beatty Circus in the 1950s.
It was in 1952 that he founded the Wenatchee Youth Circus. He was a junior high teacher and principal in the Wenatchee area for 30 years.
“It started as an after-school tumbling team,” said Pugh, who when asked his age describes himself as an octogenarian. And, at the time, there were no girls sports.
“It gave kids in those days something to do,” he said. And it still does, plus a little bit more.
“It gives them a chance to do something unique and let’s them share their talents,” Pugh said.
Kids’ Day
IKEA Renton River Days kicks off with Kids’ Day Wednesday at Liberty Park. Activities start at 11 a.m. with entertainment, exhibits and lots of free fun. Most activities run through 6 p.m., but there is the final performance of the Wenatchee Youth Circus at 6 p.m.
