Animal Attraction : Circus Lovers Gather to Cheer as Elephants, Zebras and Other Beasts Parade Off to the Big Top

Patsy Bauman fought tears Wednesday afternoon while she watched her two children stand before the faded red circus train, waving handmade welcome signs and American flags as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus pulled into town.

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“I’m such a baby,” said Bauman, 32, of Anaheim, lowering Ray-Bans to reveal watery eyes. “This is so emotional for me. I just love it.”

About 75 people gathered by the railroad tracks to watch the circus animals make their traditional one-mile trek to The Pond of Anaheim, where the circus, marking its 125th anniversary, opens tonight.

Eighteen elephants, greeted by applause and clicking cameras, were the first to make their debut after the 1 1/2-hour ride from the City of Commerce, in a train customized with watering and cleaning systems.

As the elephants began their trademark trunk-to-tail walk down Cerritos Avenue, dozens of other animals emerged from the cars.

Thirty horses, two llamas, five camels, four zebras and four miniature stallions marched past 4-year-old Amelia Bauman, who stood clutching her own stuffed circus elephant, which wore a sequined headdress and a royal purple cloak.

“The elephants are my favorite,” Amelia said, standing at about the same spot where she stood with her family last year and the year before that.

The crowd continued to give the elephants a standing ovation as they disappeared down the street. Some spectators gathered their blankets, picnic baskets and beach chairs and headed home.

But for others, like Jeff Pittser of Garden Grove, the show wasn’t over.

Wearing helmets and kneepads, Pittser and his 3-year-old son, Dillon, who was strapped to a seat behind his father, followed the caravan by bicycle.

The family has “done this for the past five years,” Pittser said. “It’s a lot of fun to drive down here with our bikes loaded in the truck and then follow the animals on the bikes.”

Pittser’s cousin, who was visiting from Oklahoma City, also followed on a bike.

“My visit here to California was great timing,” Jody Perkins said. “This is awesome. The animals are fun to watch.”

Following on foot was 33-year-old Cathy Donovan of Orange and her three children, one in a stroller.

“Walk on the right side of the street,” Donovan warned her children. “The animals are leaving presents.”

Once the animals and their sweating followers reached The Pond about 30 minutes later, a traffic jam had formed as latecomers raced to catch the elephants being bathed.

For Jeff Calderon, 26, the drive from Midway City was worth the trip. Calderon brought his 2-year-old son, Vincent, to watch the procession and then the elephant baths. His son’s reaction would determine if the family attends the circus while it is in town today through Aug. 13.

“This was a trial to see if Vincent would be afraid of the animals,” Calderon said. “He loved it, so we’ll definitely be here opening night.”