The circus is coming to Selma for shows on Friday and Saturday at Bloch Park.

The Carson & Barnes Circus will hold at least four shows this week for the general public and also a couple Friday for area schools. The Tyler Rose Organization, which was started in 2001 by president Willie Rose, is hosting the circus.

He said it’ll be a learning experience for the children to be up close to animals they may be seeing for the first time.

“It’s a learning experience and they have a chance to look at the real life animals,” Rose said. “They will learn part of science of how [the actors] learn their acts and acrobatics and the flipping and the turning.”

Rose started the Tyler Rose Organization so that students would have something to do in the afternoons.

“For years, I watched kids that didn’t have the access to after school tutorials or didn’t have anything to do on the weekend and it helped them pull their grades up during school,” Rose said.

Rose said shows will be held Friday morning for local students. The Carson & Barnes website lists a show time at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and also shows on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be bought at A+ Climate Control, located at 723 Alabama Avenue, and at Cash & Carry, located at 1315 West Highland Avenue. If bought in advance at one of those two locations, tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children.

If bought in advance online, tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for children. If bought the day of the circus, tickets are $16 for adults and $10 online. For more information, visit the Carson & Barnes Circus at www.carsonbarnescircus.com.