The Big Top, elephants and the blizzard: Hampton Roads says goodbye to the Ringling circus
The circus is coming to town. For the last time.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus announced in January it’s packing up the big top after 146 years.
Times have changed, the company said. Animal activists succeeded in getting elephants removed from the show last year, and ticket sales have fallen too far.
As the Ringling performers head to Norfolk’s Scope arena and then the Hampton Coliseum on their final tour, some Hampton Roads residents are getting nostalgic. Some remember memorable performances, like the time in 1980 when spectators got snowed in by a blizzard. And some are just happy to see animals get out of show business.