By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Exotic animals, clowns and daredevils will fill the Pelham Civic Complex Oct. 12-14 as the Zamora Temple Shrine Circus comes to town.

The circus will kick off on Friday, Oct. 12 with shows at 4:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., and will continue with shows on Oct. 13 at noon, 4 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Shows will also begin at noon, 4 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Advance tickets are available at all local Western Markets, Food Depots and at the Civic Complex. Adult tickets are $15 and children 12 and younger are $10. A coupon for a free child pass with a paid general admission ticket is available at Zamoratempleonline.com.

A circus adventure program will begin one hour prior to each show time on all three days.

All proceeds generated during the event will benefit the local Zamora Shrine Temple, which raises money to help children across North America facing orthopedic problems and burn injuries.

This year will mark the first time in 30 years the Shrine Circus has been held in the Birmingham area, and organizers are hoping to make it an annual event, said Pat Coyne with the Birmingham-based Brum Advertising.

For more information on the Shrine Circus, visit Facebook.com/ZamoraShrineCircus.