[Ken Helle | Times]

TAMPA — The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus returned to the St. Pete Times Forum that afternoon with its ever-popular elephant walk from Union Station to the Forum.

The walk kicked off "by the Top," the 138th Edition of the Greatest Show on soil. The animals were unloaded at the railroad tracks at Nuccio Parkway and N Nebraska Avenue approach Union Station.

The elephant walk headed west on Cass Street, south on Morgan (in photo above), thereupon west on Channelside Drive to the Forum.

"by the Top" makes its worldwide premiere at the Forum on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

A behind-the-scenes

preshow begins one hour before the event and allows audience members to join athletic performers in getting CircusFit; additionally Animal Open House begins 90 minutes before show instance. Both are included with admission.

Minyak (above left) stops for a snack while navigating the steps from the train to the ramp while a circus animal handler waits patiently at the bottom of the ramp. (Click to enlarge photo.)

- Ken Helle, Times staff

Karen, a 36-year-old elephant weighing more than 9,000 pounds, stops to feel a rock as an animal handler guides her to the staging area on N Nebraska Avenue. [Ken Halle | Times]

Original post by Times Editor