need some circus stuff

I think of a circus as primarily a show performed (such as those you mentioned) by professional circus people. A fair (state or county) as an event with exhibits, rides of one sort or the other (the "midway"), amateur contests (canning, animals, baked goods, etc.), and maybe some events or shows (horseback riding, a contest featuring either a known or unknown act, a tractor pull, big trucks). I think of a carnival as primarily rides, small shows ("See the tattooed lady!"), and booths selling various products or crafts. This might not be the official definition, just my way of thinking of the difference. There can be some overlap on exactly what each of them feature based on how large the event is.

i think a fair with games is actually more of a fair and a carnival together, but everyone just calls it a fair.

a fair alone is something like a craft fair, or artisan fair with just booths for things. once the games are involved, most people will still call it a fair, even though the games are more of a canival thing.

a circus is, to me, usually more professional seeming and more of a sit down and watch feeling to it. it's like a show whereas a carnival/fair is more of a walk around thing with shows you can go to, but there's still a ton of other things to do like games and stuff.

things at a circus (from a website):
Acrobats
Animals – horses, dogs, camels, zebras, tigers, llamas, alpacas, elephants, lions, ostriches
Balloons
Band
Big top
Clowns
Contortionist
Costumes
Custard pie
Diablo troupe
Face painter
Fire eater
High wire
Ice cream
Juggler
Popcorn
Props
Rings
Ringmaster
Strongman
Trapeze
Water/confetti in a bucket
Wire Walker

The Lonely One said:

my MC knows she's going to die today, and in her society the day one dies allows them access to a circus/fair/carnival

Click to expand...

That sounds to me like the worst day ever.

Carry on!

The wikipedia "circus" entry didn't help?
It leads to a lot of other circus entries, too.

Somebody here on AW used to belong to a circus. I don't remember who. Perhaps you could do a search on these boards?

I would think of using one of those summertime amusement parks instead of a circus. The irony of it seems to fit. Give it a name that that somehow relates to the story, such as the Golden Sunset Amusement Park or Rainbow Pier.

Just an idea.

Here is Ringling Bros. website. It lists their acts and has a "virtual tour" of their grounds.

http://www.ringling.com/

Here is the site the Shriner's circus.

http://www.shrine-circus.com/

Here is the site to Big Apple circus.

http://www.bigapplecircus.org/


Your welcome.