Flying Wallendas highlight Normal 150th anniversary celebration

Posted on September 6, 2015

*The Sept. 11-14 celebration will include performances from the tightrope walking family. (WJBC File Photo)*

By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – The Town of Normal’s 150th anniversary celebration is just around the corner, and it includes some attractions you don’t want to miss.

Sept. 11, 12 and 13 will include all day entertainment from Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus and Jr. Gamma Phi Circus, a variety of musical acts and local food favorites. Uptown Normal Marketing Manager Joe Tulley said the circus themed entertainment doesn’t stop there.

“The Flying Wallendas are going to be here performing on Constitution Boulevard,” Tulley said. “They’ll be putting on a few shows Saturday. The circus fun culminates that day at about 5:45 p.m. with Tito Wallenda, Nick Wallendas uncle, doing a skywalk across Uptown Circle.”

Tulley said scheduling the tightrope walking family wouldn’t have been possible without help from the community.

“It’s been sort of a long, trying journey to make it happen,” said Tulley. “But it’s really great when you have folks that want to chip in. We were going to do it across a couple of buildings but logistically that wasn’t going to work. We had some safety concerns, so our friends at Stark Excavating are donating some cranes. Whenever you mention this to people, they’ve been more than happy to donate.”

A full schedule of events can be found on the Town of Normal’s website.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].

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