Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest Presents World-Renowned Moscow Circus

New for 2006, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest presents a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the world-renowned Moscow Circus, with stunning acrobatics showcased in a show custom designed for Silver Dollar City, and the Zunyi Acrobats of China for their first U.S. performance. These shows premiere along with the Grand Opening of the all-new Grand Exposition with 10 new family rides on April 6 at the Branson, Missouri theme park.

The Moscow Circus, with a 200-year tradition, produces the most talented acrobats and aerialists in the world. Supported by Russian Empress Catherine the Great in the late 1700s, the Moscow Circus is the world’s longest running and most prestigious circus organization, and has been a prized part of Russia’s cultural heritage for centuries. “Bringing this tradition of quality and excellence spanning generations of performers to World-Fest gives our guests a rare opportunity to see some of the very best in the world in acrobatics, trapeze, gymnastics and clowning,” said Rex Burdette, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest coordinator. The Moscow Circus performs throughout the entire festival, April 6 – May 7.

In the tradition of the late 19^th Century expositions that brought exotic performers from other lands and technological wonders to towns across the U.S., Silver Dollar City opens its all-new $8 million development for 2006 – the Grand Exposition, with 10 new family rides, the theme park’s biggest expansion ever for kids. The Grand Exposition, opening with World-Fest, nearly doubles the number of rides at the park and increases ride capacity more than 50 percent. From the five-story Magnificent Wave Carousel to the interactive twirling tea cups of the Royal Tea Party, the rides are designed for families to enjoy together in the historically themed setting.

Also new this year, World-Fest presents the Zunyi Acrobats of China performing for the first time in the U.S., musicians from the Czech Republic, a mariachi band from Mexico and a new Irish show with dancers, musicians and storytellers. Some of the returning performers from countries around the world are the colorful German stiltwalkers of Zebra Stiltzentheater, a troupe of Swiss alpenhorn musicians, a steel drum band from Trinidad and pan flute musicians from Ecuador.

Food and craftsmanship take on an international flavor too, as the park offers a pavilion of specialties such as Jamaican jerk chicken and Caribbean snapper, Mexican fajitas, oriental platters, Greek pies and salads, and desserts including Italian tiramisu and a Swiss chocolate fountain. The unique craftsmanship of talented artisans from 32 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including handcrafted baskets, jewelry, textiles, musical instruments and home décor, is featured in a showcase from Ten Thousand Villages, new this year for World-Fest.

Each evening, the show Classic Country Nights is featured in Echo Hollow Amphitheatre, with guest performances during World-Fest by a bluegrass band from the Czech Republic.

World-Fest runs April 6 – May 7, with the park offering Family Spring Break Days on select dates in March and early April. During World-Fest, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays (closed Easter Sunday, April 16). For festival information, schedules and tickets, call 1-800-831-4FUN. For season passes, call 1-800-888-PASS. Information is also available at http://www.silverdollarcity/