Aerialist flying high under the big top

The Lewis and Clark Circus, a newer European version which is different from the one you may remember visiting the area as a kid, recently made a stop in Middlebourne at the Tyler County Fair Grounds. Local families packed in under the traditional 100-foot round and more than 20-foot tall, big top tent to see soaring acrobats, jugglers, aerialists, clowns and more! And if that wasn’t enough you could buy your fill of popcorn, cotton candy, candy apples and circus novelty toys.

Founded by Bob Childress in 2006, The Lewis & Clark Circus was Childress’s second show in the circus business, after successfully operating the Hendricks Bros. Circus from 1994 until 2006.

With the new show, Childress wanted to tour the country with a smaller more intimate production which would allow the whole show to pack up and move on pick-up trucks.

Leana and Vandeir Reis, both talented circus performers, fell in love while living the circus life. Lena, an aerialist, and Vandeir, a professional acrobat, not only married but soon found themselves with the once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a circus. When in 2013 Bob Childress presented them an offer, they sprung on the opportunity and the rest is history.