Tomorrow the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus XTREME arrives in Birmingham at BJCC.  Instead of an elephant walk they are doing something a little different that I think is a great idea, despite being in the middle of a school day.  If you have a child interested in animal care and elephants, it may be worth checking them out for a jaunt downtown.

Here are the details:

January 21, 11:30-12:30AM – “Pachyderm Picnic” at the BJCC Uptown District

Event location: Courtyard Plaza between the Arena and Concert Hall at the BJCC.  You’ll want to enter from the Exhibition Hall side to the Courtyard.

Picnic information:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is hosting a first time ever Animal Care Seminar and Brunch on

Wednesday, January 21 at 11:30-12:30p.m. The event “Pachyderm Picnic” will be held at the BJCC Uptown

District. Attendees will get up close and personal with elephants as part of the seminar. This event is open to

the public. Parking will be available in the Uptown District (one block from event location.)  (Prepare for an $8 parking charge)

You will need to bring a sack lunch or just eat before or after. The event will be near the Uptown restaurant district.

The Animal Care Seminar will be a live, 30 minute demonstration given by members of the Animal Care staff

who will explain daily care, diet and exercise of The Greatest Show On Earth®

The animal care staff will discuss how elephants travel with the show, the training and food-reward process, as well as any animal-
specific training tools such as halters, leashes, crops, ankus and guides.

After the Animal Care Seminar, several hundred pounds of locally sourced, fresh produce including: fruits will be delivered for the elephants to enjoy.