One of the many framed circus prints that dotted the street.

Why do I live in a small Indiana town? I think the knock on my door the other night can help explain this one. To start with, most people don’t knock on our door, they walk right in!

For another – it was a neighbor a street and a half over inviting us to a circus put on by her visiting grandkids…who also happen to be in a circus club (and to bring a side dish to share)!

We had no idea what to expect. I threw together a red potato and green bean vinegar and oil salad with my farmers’ market purchases from that morning and, well, you can imagine our surprise when we turned the corner and–the street was hopping!

Fifty people minimum, no problem. They actually had the street closed off at each end. Only in a small town, right?

There were chairs set up across the street from the house (as well as chairs that people brought from home), a water and punch table, various large framed circus prints to make it festive, and a makeshift spotlight ready to shine over it all.

I can’t forget one of the best parts: The very long table laden with yummy stuff: pasta salads and dessert pizza, layer cakes and veggie trays. Oh my!

We didn’t know everyone but it didn’t matter. The kids all played together and giggled while the performers got ready; the grown-ups mingled, chatted, and ate. After the sound check –the circus was on!

The Table at Our Neighborhood Circus!

What a circus this was! These kids juggled: They juggled while one girl walked slowly between two jugglers, they juggled on unicycles, with balls and clubs — and did figure-8’s (then reversed it!).

A girl stood on a very large ball and managed to navigate it between colorful cones. They performed classic skits and walked on stilts. It. Was. Fun!

After the show? We could try out everything! Yes, I rode the clown bike which is a lot harder than you’d think! Hubs learned how to juggle and he could even balance on the ball. The circus definitely brought out his inner Carnie!

It’s nights like that that remind us why we chose to live in a small town.

Yes, you could sit in a lawn chair in the middle of the street on a Sunday in town and not have to get out of the way very often, and yup, you will always see someone you know no matter where you go (two people if you leave the house without make-up).And, no, there aren’t 30 kinds of orange juice to decide between at the store.

But–there’s nothing like a sense of community. This is what drew us to small town life in the first place. This is what it’s all about.

See this and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Related posts:

1. The Neighborhood Circus and Block Party Images
2. Neighborhood Block Party and Circus: An Annual Event
3. Only in a Small Town
4. Martin’s Restaurant in Rensselaer, Indiana Rules Breakfast
5. Easy Caramel Corn Recipe: Fit For a Circus!