Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 30, 1994                   TAG: 9405300076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: MARA LEE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SUNNY DAY AT FESTIVAL IN THE PARK LETS THE CHILDREN SHINE

For visitors to the 25th Festival in the Park in Roanoke on Sunday, the answer to the Backyard Circus ringmaster's question had to be: not much at all.

A few children were crabby and crying, but many more were making crafts, running through the maze, eating ice cream cones, climbing trees, clambering over rocks, and just running around.

The children were the show at the Backyard Circus. Bill Carpenter, a ringmaster in red tails, top hat and checkered pants seemed more of the 1890s than the 1990s. He directed girls in tulle skirts in the butterfly ballet.

"Dance, little butterflies, keep dancing ladies, don't stop," he singsonged. "If you get dizzy, go the other way.

"Watch closely folks, every movement has a meaning."

Carpenter's old-timey patter is full of meaning too. He's been on the road with the circus and other children's shows for 34 years. Every word builds excitement, reassures, or gives direction to the kids participating.

He expertly orchestrated the human cannonball act, as one little boy went in the cannon and another "landed" in a bystander's arms.

"Ladies and gentleman, courage is his middle name," he crowed.

A little boy said to his dad wonderingly, "How did he do that?"

"You can't go wrong," Carpenter said. "Whatever happens is part of the fun."

That was true at the dance stages too. Even dropped batons seemed charming when silver sequins and batons matched the backdrop of a mirrored building and contrasted with the bluest possible sky.

Very small girls bounced to Disney music as their teacher in the wings led each dance move. If they didn't all step in time, proud parents didn't seem to mind.

The knife-twirlers impressed spectators sprawled on the hill. A little boy with a crew cut asked, "Are they going to cut theirselves?"

The Amphitheatre provided music for every ear. Chamber Music Singers wove intricate harmonies as folks lounged on quilts, one reading the National Enquirer. The Roanoke Valley Flute Choir piped John Philip Sousa, and people walking by were perilously close to marching.

The Gazebo musicians and a booth with dulcimer players from Ohio provided soothing sounds away from barkers crying "Onion rings! Curly fries!"

A handful of shoppers stood spellbound while the dulcimer duet played. When the song was over, the tiny audience was silent for a moment. A teen still dressed in his church clothes said, "Yes, it's beautiful. I love to hear that."

The craft booths attracted crowds so thick they overflowed the sidewalks. Vendors from Florida, California, New York and closer by displayed toys, jewelry of every kind, stained glass, warm woods, candles, bamboo saxophones, hats and silks.

A woman gasped with delight to her companion, "Let me see the wreaths!"

"Wouldn't those be nice on a screened-in porch?" an older woman said about the ash rocking chairs.

"Look, Randy, isn't that cool?" a preteen said, pointing to sparkly earrings.

And then there was the parental refrain: "OK, honey, hold Mommy's hand. We've got just a little more stuff for Mommy to look at, then we'll be all done."

Festival in the Park will continue through June 5 at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke.