This town is your typical destination coastal town, offering family fun on the boardwalk, movies and concerts on the beach, and an over abundance of gulf courses. Now, Ocean City is also home to the Ocean City Sunset Celebration, a daily festival (weather permitting) featuring artists and variety performers from all around the world. The entertainment is family friendly and there is no admission price. (Although, tipping should never be frowned upon!) Here’s a sneak peak of the acts you’ll find at the O.C. Sunset Celebration:

For more information, call 443.421.1095 or email ocsunsetcelebration@gmail.com. You can also visit their website and Facebook page. Special thanks to George Gilbert and all he’s doing to promote Ocean City.

World Circus Culture follows five circus acts from different countries as they rehearse and compete at the “Academy Awards” of circus competitions, the Monte Carlo Circus Festival. Through these personal stories, the film will open peoples’ eyes to the true culture, art, business, and history of circus on an international scale as never seen before. After filming all over Europe, the US, Canada and Peru, editing has begun on the film. Director / Producer Angela Snow, and Emmy Award winner editor, Emma Morris, are putting 200 hours of circus footage together to reveal the behind the scenes life, history, and culture of circus on an international scale.

Filming is complete! Now it’s time for Post Production. Filmmaking is never a quick and easy process, but with the end is in sight, Snow needs your assistance. Anything little bit helps and for your donations, you’ll get rewards like signed Ken Burns DVDs, Ringling Bros tickets, circus photos and more.

Click here to donate now.

No bueno, folks! Hot off the Coney Island press:

BAD BEETLES THREATEN CONEY ISLAND CIRCUS SIDESHOW SEASON!

The 2012 summer season of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow is being threatened by an invasion! A nest of wood-eating beetles found in the ceiling of the freakshow’s recently landmarked 1917 building is causing an uproar that threatens to slow down progress in the ‘New Coney Island’. Emergency repairs to the famed Coney Island attraction are necessary to prevent the building’s 2nd floor from collapsing on an awestruck audience distracted by fire eaters, sword swallowers, snake charmers and self-inflicted freaks entertaining the masses at the World’s Playground.

The beetles have long since moved on, but their damage requires emergency reconstruction. Dick Zigun, founder of the sideshow, says, “We’re calling on all supporters of Coney Island USA and the nation’s last permanent 10-and-1 Sideshow to help us fix the theater and get it ready for the summer. Coney Island USA has a temporary solution in place and would never invite audiences into a dangerous space, but the long-term consequences are serious.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Make a tax-exempt donation with a Credit Card by clicking here
• Make a tax-exempt donation with Paypal by clicking here
• Become a Member of Coney Island USA by clicking here
• Send a Check or Money Order made out to “Coney Island USA” to: Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
• Make an in person donation or become a member (Cash, Check, Money Order or Credit Card) Saturdays and Sundays from 12p – 6pm at Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Ave.
• Post this page to your Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Email this page to your friends.

Your donation helps ensure that Coney Island’s 2012 season includes the Sideshow. Remember that Coney Island was built on nickels and dimes and every little bit helps. All donations are fully tax deductible.

We believe everyone can be the world’s best at something. Our mission is to raise the bar of human achievement through world records.

Anyone can submit an attempt to break a world record here, easily uploading video and photos, as well as linking to existing YouTube videos. They are currently reaching out to sideshow performers and encouraging them to participate. As per their suggestion, I just spent a moment perusing their well-designed site, and the first video I stumbled upon captured the world’s youngest plate spinner (only 19 months old).

The site is social in nature, allowing comments, “awesome” designations, voting and sharing across other platforms. You can even “track” a world record and easily submit your own rebuttals.

Go break some records, folks!

The owner of this beautiful, vintage circus poster has been unable to track down any information about both this image, as well as the circus troupe it portrays. He’s contacted me in search of any and all help he can get. If you have any leads, please respond to this post and I’ll get in touch.

Thanks, readers!

The horrific story:

A fight broke out at the fairgrounds, west of West Palm Beach, shortly after midnight Sunday, sparking the shooting that injured a girl and a boy, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.

The victims were taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. The girl has since been released from the hospital, but the boy was still being treated for several gunshot wounds Monday evening at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

Authorities have released few details about the suspected shooter or why he pulled out a gun. Deputies locked down the sprawling fairgrounds on Southern Boulevard, keeping thousands of people from leaving the fair for up to an hour. During that time, deputies hunted the shooter, whom they described only as a man dressed in black.

The fairgrounds was packed when the fight erupted near Gate 2, on the northeast side of the fair. Online news readers commented about people “screaming in terror” as they ran from the scene.  No one else was injured and the fairgoers left safely when the lockdown was lifted.

And now, the backlash:

The sign that greets South Florida Fair visitors lists a lot of things that aren’t allowed, and weapons are one of the items listed, but organizers said there aren’t any checks done to make sure weapons aren’t brought in.

“We’ve never employed bag searches or pat downs or magnetometers or anything like that at the fair,” Vymlatil said.

When asked why, Vymlatil answered there hasn’t ever been a reason to, but after the shooting now there may be a reason.

It seems the South Florida Fair is hesitant to implement any drastic repercussions, but it’s still a sad, sad day when fair organizers are forced to consider metal detectors at the gates…

*Photo Source: Jezebel

80 brilliantly colored, boldly bombastic posters advertising the feature attractions from all corners of the globe and peerless performers of the big top.  The Cincinnati-based Strobridge Lithographing Company was one of the country’s leading printers for the circuses. Their posters were unrivaled in their artistry and provide us with a detailed portrait of the American circus in its Golden Age, when it was unrivaled as the premiere entertainment institution in the country. (Ringling)

In addition to showcasing magnificent poster art, this particular exhibit is accompanied by an iPod tour that is a little different than your usual audio guide. The posters are organized by theme, and the iPod provides music appropriate for those particular themes. When you are in the section highlighting clowns, you can gaze upon the posters while listening to a jovial, upbeat traditional circus song that was popular for clown acts; when you next reach the portion focusing on life-threatening stunts, such as aerial acts, you can study the posters while listening to classic dizzying and suspenseful circus tunes. It adds a very immersive element to this already impressive experience.
If you didn’t get the chance to visit the museum while this exhibit was up, don’t worry! The Cincinnati Art Museum has published this collection into a full-color book, complete with a satisfying amount of trivia and backstory to the artwork. While the museum collection only displayed 80 posters, many more are featured in this book. You can buy it here on Amazon

To view the original article and see more photos of the world’s smallest girl, Jyoti Amge, click here.