The circus comes to Van Cortlandt Manor

Edited by Georgette Gouveia

By Rob Schweitzer

A baby bear, stilt-dancers, gargantuan puppets and the chance to become a circus star are just some of the new highlights for this year’s Memorial Day weekend classic, Animals & Acrobats at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

 The new acts join returning favorites that include Atka, the ambassador wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, and A Different Spin, a group that juggles objects and comedy.

In America’s early days, fire jugglers, tumbling acrobats, rope walkers, magicians — indeed, clever characters of all sorts — used to travel the countryside as a ragged band of entertainers, setting up shop at various locations. This is how the traditional American circus began, and it’s the inspiration for Animals & Acrobats, which takes place May 28 through 30, 10 a.m. to 5p.m. at Van Cortlandt Manor, a Post-Revolutionary site administered by Historic Hudson Valley in Tarrytown.

“We put so much into this weekend that I’m sure we rival the best traveling circuses from years gone by,” said Althea Corey, site director of Van Cortlandt Manor.

Among the new acts are:

* Boston Circus Guild — This professional troupe offers a wide-range of circus magic including high-flying acrobatics, stilt-dancing (not walking, dancing!), and gargantuan puppets who roam the crowd. Contortionists who squeeze themselves into the tightest of spaces round out the group’s roster.

* Wildlife Expert Andrew Simmons — Simmons, who specializes in predators, will bring a baby bear cub for all to see. His presentation focuses on the importance of conservation.

* Circus Arts Camp (Hartsdale) — Kids can learn to balance on a low-wire, ride a unicycle, juggle, spin plates and walk on stilts.

* Museum of Curiosities — Visitors might be awed by a giant mastodon, an Invisible Lady, and a Cabinet of Natural History featuring taxidermy specimens on loan from Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining.

Returning favorites include: A Different Spin, an act that was formed at Vassar College and melds juggling, daring acrobatics and comedy; and Two by Two Zoo, a conservation group that educates the public about fascinating wildlife. Hopping kangaroos, flying lemurs, hilarious monkeys, pythons, parrots, and goats are some of their traveling stars.

The Wolf Conservation Center returns with ambassador wolf Atka. Other performers include Jennifer Pena’s birds-of-prey demonstration Flight of the Raptor; The Acrobrats; slack rope walker Dikki Ellis; Chris Yerlig as Hoopoe the Mime; fire juggler Will Shaw; storyteller April Armstrong; Fred Greenspan’s Punch & Judy Shows; magician Bob Olson; storytelling, dance, and olden music by Bells & Motley; fortune-telling by mystic Glenda Hughes; and musicians Jim Keyes & Cristal Stevens, and Margaret Vetare & Bill Ochs.

Acts old and new will be introduced by ringmaster – and master storyteller himself – Jonathan Kruk.

Geordane’s of Irvington will provide picnic food and beverages. New this year, visitors can order an entire picnic in advance online. (Orders must be placed by May 23.) Also new this year for the sweet tooth is homemade ice cream from Blue Pig of Croton, featuring ingredients from Hudson Valley sources.

Tickets are $12; $10 for children ages 5-17, free for children under age 5 and HHV members. Visitors who purchase tickets in advance online can get free popcorn for everyone under 18 in their party.

Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue (off Route 9). Take the Croton Point Avenue exit from Route 9 and follow the signs. For information: 631-8200, .hudsonvalley.org.