Ramos Brothers Circus starts an 11-day run Thursday in Manteca.

The circus offers camels, zebras, ostriches and dog acts to boot until Sunday, Sept. 8, on East Yosemite Avenue near Highway 99 next to McDonald’s restaurant.  Shows include two trapeze acts with black light, one with a motorcycle and additional black light accents.

The circus on weeknights has one show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday shows are at 5 and 8 p.m.  Sundays feature three shows at 2, 5 and 7:30 p.m.

Erecting the big tent takes some 40 hours and a staff of more than three dozen workers.  The show features nearly 20 performers and a staff of five dozen support staff who travel from city to city on the circus circuit. 

Operating the circus has been a Ramos family tradition for five generations.  Third generation Alex Ramos came to the United States in 1983 to work for the Carson and Barnes Circus.  In 2005 the family opened its own circus on the West Coast with performances in California, Nevada and Arizona for nearly 40 years.  The family has claimed Las Vegas as their home during the two off months when the circus is not on the road.

Raul Castano easily steals the show as the performing clown with his dog “Cookie” who can rob him blind while the audience watches as he is being inattentive.  Castano usually blames a member of the audience – tongue in cheek – for the thefts.

For more information on the show, call 877-726-6705 or see www.ramoscircus.com.