The circus comes to town

[Ken Helle | Times]

TAMPA -- The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus returned to the St. Pete Times Forum this afternoon with its ever-popular elephant walk from Union Station to the Forum.

The walk kicked off "Over the Top," the 138th Edition of the Greatest Show on Earth. The animals were unloaded at the railroad tracks at Nuccio Parkway and N Nebraska Avenue near Union Station.

The elephant walk headed west on Cass Street, south on Morgan (in photo above), then west on Channelside Drive to the Forum.

"Over the Top" makes its worldwide premiere at the Forum on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

A behind-the-scenes preshow begins one hour before the event and allows audience members to join athletic performers in getting CircusFit; also Animal Open House begins 90 minutes before show time. Both are included with admission.

Minyak (above left) stops for a snack while navigating the steps from the train to the ramp while a circus animal handler waits patiently at the bottom of the ramp. (Click to enlarge photo.)

- Ken Helle, Times staff

Karen, a 36-year-old elephant weighing more than 9,000 pounds, stops to feel a rock as an animal handler guides her to the staging area on N Nebraska Avenue. [Ken Halle | Times]