Circus Returns to Deadwood

The Naja Northern Hills Shrine Circus returns to Deadwood Saturday for two performances at the Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds. Pioneer photo by Mark Watson

By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer 

DEADWOOD — The Naja Northern Hills Shrine Circus will call Deadwood's Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds its circus stomping grounds Saturday. Two shows, complete with a Main Street kick-off parade, comprise just part of what will happen in and out of the Jordan World Circus show ring.

The second biggest fundraiser of the year for the Naja Shriners, circus co-chair Jeff Schroeder said the Shrine Circus helps raise funds for transportation costs for sick children traveling back and forth to Shriners Hospitals.

“There are over 420 children in western South Dakota who are patients at the Minnesota Shriners Hospital and others in the Shriners Hospital system,” Schroeder explained. “The circus helps fund all activities it takes to get these patients back and forth to Shriners Hospitals free of charge. It is held to pay for the expenses to run the Naja Shrine. It supports the Shrine, in order for us to do our work. The money doesn't go directly to the hospital. It helps us do our job to get kids to the hospitals.”