Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo Manager Natalie Flecker said she was thrilled to confirm Ashton Entertainment circus and performing arts company was returning to Mount Isa for the first time since the mid-1980s.

“There will be up to four shows per day over the rodeo weekend plus circus workshops where all ages are welcome to come along and learn some circus skills,” Ms Flecker said.

She said the circus shows and workshops would be free to anyone with a rodeo ticket, which would now be required to attend the event at Buchanan Park.

Sixth generation Ashton family member, Chantel Ashton-Rodriguez said Ashton Entertainment was excited to be bringing the Big Top back to the Isa.

“The shows will be packed with a wide variety of acts, from rodeo clowns, hula hoops and high balance acts which everyone expects through to our spectacular Russian Silks performance which is very contemporary and dramatic,” Mrs Ashton-Rodriguez said.

Ms Flecker, Chantel and her nephew Remi Ashton-Rodriguez visited schools in the Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Julia Creek region this week.

They will also visit the Mount Isa Hospital children’s ward and local nursing home to give locals a taste of the popular circus workshops.

Ms Ashton-Rodriguez said the free circus workshops over the rodeo weekend would give rodeo-goers a chance to learn circus skills including walking a tight wire, juggling, hula hoops, Diablo and plate spinning.

“The workshops are fully based on fun, and we encourage everyone to come along and give it a go,” she said. 

“We don’t get to the Outback very often so we really hope to see as many people as possible at the shows.”

The 2016 Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo will be held from Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14.

There will be two shows and two Ashton Entertainment workshops on Friday (August 12), then four shows and two workshops on both Saturday and Sunday (August 13 and 14).