It is not everyday in Atmore when camel rides, petting zoos and acrobat shows are some of the choices for weekend entertainment, but that was exactly the case Friday and Saturday as droves of locals turned out for fun under the big top with the Lewis and Clark Circus.

Clowns, exotic animals, and performers of all sorts put on a quite a show for the eager public in the field area behind Atmore’s YMCA. The Y, which donated the use of the property for the circus in return for a portion of ticket sales, sponsors the shows in Atmore every two years, and uses the funds raised to meet some of the program’s general needs.

YMCA manager Ross Terry said the visiting circus was a hit, despite many other activities competing for people’s attention.

“It was down a little bit from previous years,” Terry said. “But even with all the other activities going on, it was still pretty good.”

While visiting Atmore, the circus made pit stops at local schools and distributed free passes for the weekend’s shows to children who would be accompanied by a paying adult.