Kelly Miller Circus Wows Young Crowds

Armani Herrera is just three years old, but already has a passion for animals.

"He loves animals," said Armani's mother, Lorena Herrera, of Lake in the Hills.

For that reason, Lorena and her husband, Marco, brought Armani and his older brother Mark, 6, to the  at . 

The circus, based out of Hugo, Oklahoma, was in town and performing two shows under a big tent at the park. 

"This is perfect for him," Lorena said. "He rode a camel last year, but his favorite animal is the elephant."

The Herreras enjoyed a slow, relaxing elephant ride outside the big tent before the show began. The two boys didn't seem the least bit concerned about the elephant's size. Once the ride was completed, little Armani mimmicked the elephant's trunk wag and sounded a pint-sized elephant wail.

The Kelly Miller Circus offered its guests rides on camels and ponies as well. 

Families enjoyed cotton candy, popcorn and bought souvenirs before the show. Circus workers provided whimsical works of face paintings for the little ones.

"We love the circus," said LITH resident Donna Behrens, who was at the Kelly Miller big tent on Saturday with daughter, Hannah, 6, and son Braden, 4. 

"We come every year," Behrens said. "Our favorite parts are the elephants and the tigers."

The tigers kicked off the show, one even peformed a furry-footed moonwalk move to the music of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

The Kelly Miller Circus appearance in Lake in the Hills was sponsored by the Algonquin-LITH Jaycees.