Wilkes County children are getting free admission for a two-day visit to Washington by the Lewis and Clark Circus next week.

The old-fashioned big-top circus, complete with jugglers, trapeze artists, acrobats, clowns, and tigers, will put on two performances a day, at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday and Wednesday, May 1 and 2, at the McGill-Woodruff Agricultural Center.

The circus is sponsored by the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, and funds raised by the circus will go to Chamber programs to help workers and businesses in Wilkes County.

The Lewis & Clark Circus, one of only 10 traveling traditional big-top circuses that operate in the U.S., presents more than 500 shows a year.

Free tickets have been made available to children 14 and under at schools and all over the county. Adult tickets are available at the gate. The circus will also offer a petting zoo and rides for those arriving early.