AUBURN - A little bit of the big top came to Emerson Park Thursday evening when the Carson & Barnes Circus rolled into town.

With the tents, elephants and circus music projecting across the park, it was easy to see that there was a circus going on.

It was for a good cause.

This is the second time Carson & Barnes has lent a helping hand to Tyburn Academy and the school's fundraising efforts.

Joseph Manning helped organize the event on behalf of the school.

“The first one was in August of 2006,” Manning said. “They have a booking agent in Owego and he approached me about doing something, so I took it to Tyburn Academy and they were interested in doing this.”

Manning said in 2006, things got off to a slow start.

“We didn't really promote it enough,” Manning said. “This year we did a lot more with posters and flyers and it is already five times better than it was last time.”

Manning and the school decided to bring the circus back this year because of the all around value of the performance and the other attractions the show provides.

“It is a good family event,” Manning said. “It is a good value, good fun, a good show and it is helping to support a worthwhile cause in Tyburn Academy.”

Gary E. Duckett, Cayuga County director of parks and trails, said that when the school approached him about using the park, he believed the idea fit in well with the overall theme of Emerson Park.

“People call and use the park for fundraisers and community events all the time,” Duckett said. “We have big community events like the Great Race and we also have things like this, fundraisers and good causes and with things like this we are happy to accommodate.” While the sight of the high-pitched tent and elephants marching across the park might have seemed out of the ordinary, in the park's history, it isn't unusual.

“Historically there have been a number of circuses here over the years,” Duckett said.

“But things seem to be going fine with the circus here this year and we are glad to be able to help out.”

As visitors entered the midway, there were a number of attractions from a petting zoo with billy goats, to elephant rides, as well as an assortment of games, food and inflatable slides and other rides geared towards children.

Under the big top, there was a full circus performance with acrobats, performing animals, music and clowns.

And there were many excited visitors. Among them Hope DuBois, of Auburn, who brought her 3-year-old daughter Mya.

“This is her first circus,” DuBois said. “I thought it would be a good time, she really liked the petting zoo. We just thought it would be fun to bring her out and let her see all of this.”

Manning said proceeds from the performance will help the school's general funds.

While the circus had its supporters, it also drew some dissenters.

Jessica Bozek, Elaine Wilcox and Marina Novak, of Auburn, were there along with representatives from the Syracuse Animals Rights Organization, standing outside the park waving signs to try to make people aware of the need to treat animals humanely.

Bozek said the three Auburn residents were all animal rights advocates.

“They just see these animals as assets, a way to make money,” Bozek said. “They don't see them as living things with feelings. We're just here to try to make people more aware of the mistreatment of animals.”