The Flying Wallendas present daring feats of agility on the high wire to entertain and spread hope to the Joplin community

Circus Flora, St. Louis’ beloved one-ring circus, is proud to sponsor the legendary high wire troupe, the Flying Wallendas, to bring an uplifting and exhilarating performance to the disaster-ridden community of Joplin at 7 p.m. July 1 at Carousel Park, 3834 West 7th St., Joplin, Mo. The performance is free and open to the public.

Circus Flora is contributing 20 percent of ticket sales between today and Sunday for the final performance of Vagabond Adventures (5:30 p.m. Sunday) to cover expenses of the Wallendas’ appearance in Joplin.

Dating back to 1780 in the cafes of Old Bohemia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the ancestral Wallenda family was a traveling circus troupe consisting of acrobats, jugglers, clowns, aerialists and animal trainers. Now in its sixth generation, the Flying Wallendas, consisting of Tino and Olinka Wallenda with their son and daughter, have been performing with Circus Flora for 23 seasons. Known for their courageous acts on the high wire, the talented Flying Wallendas are excited to volunteer their talents to delight and bring joy to the residents of Joplin.

St. Louis’ own Circus Flora takes place under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center, adjacent to Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd. The 25th season production, Vagabond Adventures, continues through June 26. Tickets are available at 314-289-4040, www.circusflora.org, and the Circus Flora Box Office, which is located in front of the big top tent, 718 N. Grand (behind Powell Hall).

Call Carousel Park, 417-626-7710, for more information about the Wallendas’ performance on July 1.