Stop Circus Suffering

Illinois

Please help break the chain

Urge the following venues to cancel upcoming circus performances and/or make it their policy not to host future events using wild animals. A template letter for your use/personalization is available here.

Boone County Fair Association, 8847 IL-76 Bellvidere, IL 61008

Who: Carden Circus
When: June 1, 2025
Contact: bcfa2001@aol.com, (815) 544-2900
Social: Facebook

DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, 655 Executive Drive Du Quoin, IL 62832

Who: Carden Circus
When: May 31, 2025
Contact: Competitive Events and Non-Fair Events, Danette Mohr: Danette.Mohr@illinois.gov, (618) 542-1509
Social: Facebook

Marion County Fair Association, 1800 Fairground Rd Salem, IL 62881

Who: Carden Circus
When: May 30, 2025
Contact: marioncountyagfair@gmail.com, (618) 548-1251
Social: Facebook

Madison County Fairgrounds, 2025 Park Hill Dr Highland, IL 62249

Who: Carden Circus
When: May 29, 2025
Contact: madcofair@gmail.com, (618) 654-6656
Social: Facebook

Olney City Park, 502 White Squirrel Circle Olney, IL 62450

Who: Carden Circus
When: May 28, 2025
Contact: Chamber: olneyil@cityofolney.com, (618) 395-7302
Social: Facebook

American Legion Post 492, 300 Veterans Memorial Parkway Jerseyville, IL 62052

Who:  Carden Circus
When: May 27, 2025
Contact: Chamber: info@jcba-il.us, (618) 639-5222
Social: Facebook

Southgate Industrial Park Lot #3, Hwy 15 Mt. Carmel, IL 62863

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: May 3-4, 2025
Contact: Chamber: (618) 262-5116
Kelsea Stanley, Office Assistant
office@wabashcountychamber.com
Lesley Hipsher, Executive Director
Ldhipsher@wabashcountychamber.com
Social: Facebook

Red Hill Raceway, 8417 Sumner Rd. Sumner, IL 62466

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: May 2, 2025
Contact: (618) 231-2215
Social: Facebook

Casey Fairview Park, 600 E. Monroe Ave. Casey, IL 62420

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: May 1, 2025
Contact: (217) 330-5503, Chamber of Commerce: caseychamberofcommerce@gmail.com, (217) 330-5507
Social: Facebook Chamber Facebook

Teutopolis KOFC/Teutopolis Banquet Center, 210 S. Pearl St. Teutopolis, IL 62467

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 30, 2025
Contact: village@teutopolis.com, (217) 857-3543, Banquet Hall: teutoplis2874@hotmail.com, (217) 600-3546
Social: Facebook

Village Garage Lot 121 W. 9th St Ramsey, IL 62080

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 29, 2025
Contact: villageoframsey@yahoo.com, (618) 423-2019
Social: Facebook

Downtown Park, N. Duncan and W. Magnolia St. Marine, IL 62061

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 28, 2025
Contact: clerkofmarine@marineil.gov, (618) 887-4531
Social: Facebook

Schneider Park, 100 N. Maple Street, Brighton, IL 62012

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 27, 2025
Contact: clerk@brightonill.com, (618) 372-8860
Social: Facebook

Schneider Park, 100 N. Maple Street, Brighton, IL 62012

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 27, 2025
Contact: clerk@brightonill.com, (618) 372-8860
Social: Facebook

Coulterville Ball Park, King & 10th Street Coulterville, IL 62237

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 26, 2025
Contact: City Clerk: (618) 758-2813
Social: Facebook

Williamson County Fairgrounds, 101 N. Fair St. Marion, IL 62959

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 25, 2025
Contact: williamsoncountyfair@yahoo.com, (618) 751-9318
Social: Facebook

Hamilton County Fair Grounds, 805 W. Randolph St. McLeansboro, IL 62859

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 24, 2025
Contact: (618) 926-1813
Social: Facebook

Central City Lions Park, S. Morrison & E. Prairie St. Central City, IL 62801

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 23, 2025
Contact: (618) 532-7677
Social: Facebook

Lehrter/JC Park, 500 Park Ave Albers, IL 62215

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 22, 2025
Contact: villageofalbers@yahoo.com, (618) 248-5154
Social: Facebook

Freeburg Recreational Park, 300 E. Hill St Freeburg, IL 62243

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: April 21, 2025
Contact: Jenny.K@freeburgpark.org, (618) 789-4820
Social: Facebook

Old Assumption Football Field, 220 S. Locust St, Assumption, IL 62510

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: August 14, 2024
Contact: e-mail form, (217) 226-374

Centennial Park, ,1850 W Cleveland Ave, Heyworth, IL 61745

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: August 13, 2024
Contact: (309) 473-2811

Durham Park, 619 West Lincoln Ave, Onarga, IL 60955

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: August 11, 2024
Contact: villageofonarga@sbcglobal.net, (815) 268-7311

Eagle Park, 880 Commercial Street, Marseilles, IL 61341

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: August 9, 2024
Contact: Mayor@cityofmarseilles.com, 815-795-2133
​Social: Facebook, Instagram

Henry County Fairgrounds, 311 East North Street, Cambridge, IL 61238

Who: Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
When: August 8, 2024
Contact: henrycountyfair.il@mail.com, (309) 937-3391
​Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Exposition Gardens Outdoor Arena, 1601 W. Northmoor Rd, Peoria, IL 61614

Who: Carden Circus
When: June 7-8, 2024
Contact: expo@mtco.com, (309) 691-6332
​Social: Facebook

Boone County Fairgrounds, 8847 IL-76, Belvidere, IL 61008

Who: Carden Circus
When: June 2, 2024
Contact: bcfa2001@aol.com, (815) 544-2900
​Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)

Du Quoin State Fair, 655 Executive Drive, Du Quoin, IL 62832

Who: Carden Circus
When: June 1, 2024
Contact: Patsie.Hopkins@illinois.gov, (618) 542-1351
​Social: Facebook, X (Twitter)

Olney City Park, 502 White Sqiurrel Cir, Olney, IL 62450

Who: Carden Circus
When: May 30, 2024
Contact: Allen Barker, City Manager, citymanager@cityofolney.com, (618) 395-7302
​Social: Facebook

Western Illinois Threshers Grounds, 1570 North Co Road 900, Hamilton, IL 62341

Who: Culpepper and Merriweather Circus
When: August 19, 2022
Contact: Ed Hartweg, (217) 845-3041
​Social: Facebook

Illinois State Fairgrounds, 455 Executive Drive, Du Quoin, IL 62832

Who: Carden Circus
When:  June 4-5, 2022
Contact: Josh Gross, Josh.Gross@illinois.gov, 618-542-1351
​Social: Facebook, Twitter

Marion County Fairgrounds, 1800 Fairground Rd, Salem, IL 62881

Who: Carden Circus
When: June 2-3, 2022
Contact: marioncountyagfair@gmail.com, (618) 548-1251
Social: Facebook

McDonough County 4-H Center, 3028 W Jackson St, Macomb, IL 61455

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 29, 2021
Contact: chattert@illinois.edu, (309) 837-3939
Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Rock Island County Fair – Copeland Building, 4200 Archer Dr, East Moline, IL 61244

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 27-28, 2021
Contact: ricofairem@gmail.com, (309) 796-1620
Social: Facebook, Instagram

Knox County Fairgrounds, 1392 Knox Hwy 9, Knoxville, IL 61448

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 22, 2021
Contact: knoxcofair@hotmail.com, (309) 289-2714
Social: Facebook, Instagram

Morgan County Fairgrounds Pavilion, 110 N Westgate Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650

Who: Carden Circus
When: August 20-21, 2021
Contact: info@themorgancountyfair.com, (217) 245-6800
Social: Facebook

McLean County Fairgrounds West Expo, 1106 Interstate Dr, Bloomington, IL 61705

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 18-19, 2021
Contact: info@mcleancountyfair.org, (309) 663–6497
Social: Facebook, Twitter

LaSalle County Fairgrounds, 1578 4-H Rd, Ottawa, IL 61350

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 17, 2021
Contact: fusinatt@illinois.edu, 815-433-0707
Social: Facebook

Kankakee County Fair Expo Center, 213 W. 4000S Rd., Kankakee, IL 60901

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 16, 2021
Contact: info@kankakeefair.org, (815) 932-6714
Social: Facebook

Livingston County Ag Fairgrounds, 18142 4h Park Rd, Pontiac, IL 61764

Who: Circus Funtastic
When: August 15, 2o21
Contact: Rick Tucker, info@livingstoncountyagfair.com, (815) 674-1444
Social: Facebook

David S. Palmer Arena, 100 W Main St, Danville, IL 61832

Who: Carden Circus
When: August 14, 2021
Contact: Joe Dunagan,  (217) 431-2424
Social:  Facebook, Twitter

Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S Randall Rd, St. Charles, IL 60174

Who: Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Tiger Show
When: July 14-18, 2021
Contact: info@kanecountyfair.com or kanecountyfair@gmail.com, 630-584-6926
Social: Facebook

 

Comments

  1. Judy Merrick · 21 June 2021 at 2:23a

    Email sent to all

  2. John · 21 June 2021 at 2:23a

    We have to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves and be the voice for the voiceless.

  3. Jerry Swarzman · 21 June 2021 at 2:23a

    Animals are not to be used for entertainment.

    FREE THEM!!!

  4. Doris Shultz · 21 June 2021 at 2:23a

    Illinois passed a law that does not allow elephants in any traveling circus. If Carden Circus is bringing elephants into Illinois they need to be fined and prosecuted. As a country we need to outlaw all traveling circuses and outlaw taking advantage of all wild animals in circuses, roadside “circuses and/or zoos”. Animals at these places are going through pure torture. Living in small cages, chained with little room to move, tied up for hours, lack of regular water or food, lack of room to run around to stretch their muscles and ligaments. This is crazy for this to continue into the 21st century.

Leave a comment on this story

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.