Shriners Circus returns to Moses Lake this week

MOSES LAKE - The El Katif Shriners are bringing their annual big top circus back to Moses Lake this week.

Beginning Thursday, Basin residents will have eight chances to catch the traditional circus act, featuring tigers, elephants, clowns and acrobats.

Shows run from Thursday to Sunday, according to a Shriners news release.

This year, the El Katif Shrine Circus will be held at the Frontage Road Auto Mall instead of the old Kmart building. The Auto Mall is located at 12056 N. Frontage Rd. E.

General admission tickets are $10, reserved seating tickets are $15 and ringside tickets are $25. Local Shriners representative Hal Gruver said tickets will be available at the venue starting noon Wednesday.

Tarzan Zerbini Productions is putting on this year's show, according to the release. The company is celebrating 250 years in the industry.

Gruver said the show features a lot of animals, including a dozen tigers. The main draw for both kids and adults is typically the animal acts, he said.

This is the second year the circus is coming to Moses Lake, said Gruver. Last year's six shows were well attended, so the group decided to add two more shows this year, he said.

Shows start at 7 p.m. Thursday and continue at 3 and 7 p.m. Friday, at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. The circus heads to Pasco after Moses Lake.

The circus is a major fundraiser for the El Katif Shriners, Eastern Washington's chapter of Shriners International.

Gruver said proceeds from the circus help fund the group's operations.

"All of the activities outside of the hospital are done by the Shriners," he said. That includes transporting patients and setting up lodging for patients' families, said Gruver.

The Shriners Hospital in Spokane serves the children of this region, including Grant and Adams counties, he said.

For more information on the El Katif Shrine circus, visit www.elkatifshrinecircus.org.