The 170-year-old Zoppe’ Family Circus will be coming to this year’s Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival at Anderson Park on Aug. 17-18.

The circus will set up at Anderson Park on Aug. 17 and run for the following 10 days, with several performances per day. In conjunction with the circus will be an Italian Village, which will offer an Italian wine tasting, authentic Italian food and vendors. Zoppe’ Circus Tickets are $15 for general admission and $20 for VIP seating. Purchase tickets at the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival - Italian Village or the City of Wheat Ridge.

Other additions to this year’s Carnation Festival will include salsa dancing during the chili cook off; an Art Exhibit and Sale featuring glass, metal, ceramics and more from 20 local artists; and a Pie Bake-Off.

The Carnation Festival’s returning attractions will include two nights of fireworks, live bands, a spaghetti supper, chili cook-off, kids events and activities, beer garden, food and craft vendors, as well as the annual parade down 38th Avenue.

Jeffco Schools will provide bus transportation to the festival. A round-trip ticket is $1. Buses will shuttle from the parking lots at Wheat Ridge Middle School, Wheat Ridge High School and Everett Middle School to and from the festival on a 30-minute continuous loop. Buses will run from 6-11:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 and 2-11:30 p.m. on Aug 18, and more will be added during the peak hours of 8:30 to 11:30 each evening.

The Carnation Festival Parade runs on Saturday, Aug. 18, on 38th Avenue between Wadsworth and Sheridan. It starts at 10 a.m. For detail about the festival & circus, visit www.wheatridgecarnationfestival.org or www.zoppecolorado.com.

See page 8 for a complete schedule of activities or to volunteer.