What a beautiful poster! Uncle Sam's American Circus

But are circus posters on the endangered list? Click here to read my report on the changing face of circus advertising as Paulos becomes the world's first circus to go completely paperless.
 

Uncle Sam's Great American Circus in Rhyl, from 29 July

As Britain's big tops spring up all over the UK once more, Uncle Sam's Great American Circus has announced that it will be trucking into Rhyl on 29 July.

Click here to see my pictures of Uncle Sam's trademark American trucks when the show visited Norwich.

Also look out for Circus Wonderland - which stars Britain's best-dressed clowns, Mr Popol and Kakehole - when they recommence their 2020 tour in sunny Shoreham 23 - 26 July.

Circus war in Norfolk

Are the more than 50 circuses in the UK this year (click here for the full list) too many for our small island?

Earlier this month, Circus Wonderland was forced to cancel its engagement in King's Lynn when director Paul Carpenter discovered Uncle Sam's Great American Circus was appearing in the Norfolk market town the week before. It would have been "financial suicide" to have two circuses appearing in consecutive weeks, said Carpenter.

Uncle Sam's Circus was itself the third circus to visit King's Lynn this year, following Circus Mondao and Russell's International Circus.

Wind forward a couple of weeks, and just a few miles west to Norwich, and on the day Uncle Sam's American Circus trucks roll out of Taverham in the north of the city (click here to see my pictures of their spectacular American lorries), I saw a poster for Billy Smart's Circus, which is coming to the Norwich Showground in just a couple of weeks on June 10.

Is the whole country suffering from such an abundance of circuses? And is there a big enough audience to sustain them all, or will the public be, as Paul Carpenter described King's Lynn "circused out"?

More pictures of Uncle Sam's American Circus trucks in Taverham, Norwich

The star-spangled American trucks of Uncle Sam's Great American Circus always make an impression when they roll into town. Here are some more pictures I snapped of them when the red, white and blue big top pitched up in Taverham on the outskirts of Norwich.

Uncle Sam's Great American Circus
Built up in Taverham, Norwich

Click here for more pictures of Uncle Sam's Great American Circus trucks.

Uncle Sam's Great American Circus trucks

Over size and over here...
Uncle Sam's American Circus trucks and star-spangled big top
roll up, roll up in Norwich.

Uncle's Sam's Great American Circus may be a British organisation based in Lincolnshire, but its star-spangled selection of American Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks sure look the part the part when they roll into town, as I found when the red white and blue big top pitched up in Norwich last year. Wherever you see them this year, be sure to give them a big "Hey, Y'all!"

Get your kicks
Far from Route 66, Uncle Sam's Yank tanks are are parked
in an eye-catching location at the side of the A1067 Fakenham Road
as you head out of Norwich.

The circus that Peterbilt
The big top won't blow away anchored to that truck 

Red white and blue Kenworth truck
and matching big top

Even Uncle Sam's smaller vehicles
let everyone know the circus is in town

Meanwhile, under star-spangled canvas
the ring and seats are readied for the evening's show

For more on circus transport, click here to read how Ingo Dock moves the Chinese State Circus and click here to see how Pinders Circus did it 100 years ago.

2nd Edition out now!

If you've ever wondered what life is like for those who run away with the circus, read Circus Mania, my behind-the-scenes journey through the world of the big top, talking to showmen, clowns, trapeze artists and tiger trainers about their unique lifestyle, culture, history, superstitions and secrets.
Click here to read the 5-star reviews on Amazon.