Circus Sarasota helps the Smithsonian celebrate centuries of tradition

By: Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Arts Editor

The 50th folklife festival runs through July 9 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — Ringling Schmingling!

With some of the nation’s most prominent circus performers, promoters and historians taking part in the 50th Smithsonian Folklife Festival, it’s no surprise that the demise of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is a frequent and much-debated subject of conversation. More