See Ringling Bros. clowns for free at dozens of events in Atlanta

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown takes a selfie with Jennifer and Kevin Fox, of Fort Pierce, Fla., during a pre show for fans Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end the "The Greatest Show on Earth" in May, following a 146-year run of performances. Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus, told The Associated Press, declining attendance combined with high operating costs are among the reasons for closing. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Credit: Chris O'Meara

Credit: Chris O'Meara

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown takes a selfie with Jennifer and Kevin Fox, of Fort Pierce, Fla., during a pre show for fans Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end the "The Greatest Show on Earth" in May, following a 146-year run of performances. Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus, told The Associated Press, declining attendance combined with high operating costs are among the reasons for closing. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME will visit dozens of metro Atlanta Chick-fil-A’s and libraries to entertain families. All events are free and open to the public.

It could be the last-ever opportunity to see these famous clowns. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closes forever this year after 146 years.  The circus plans to finish its current tour which ends in May in Providence, R.I.

 In metro Atlanta, the circus is scheduled at Philips Arena from Feb. 15-20, 2017,and Duluth’s Infinite Energy Arena from Feb. 23-March 5. (See more details below)

Tickets are selling fast for the last shows for the "The Greatest Show on Earth." For tickets, go to www.ringling.com/tickets-schedules/ 

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown balances a hat on his nose during a pre show for fans Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end the "The Greatest Show on Earth" in May, following a 146-year run of performances. Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus, told The Associated Press, declining attendance combined with high operating costs are among the reasons for closing. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Credit: Chris O'Meara

icon to expand image

Credit: Chris O'Meara

But before the circus performs, Atlanta area families can see the clowns perform for free around town at several Chick-fil-A’s and libraries.

 The following is a list of the free library events:

10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 Walnut Grove 1000 Walnut Grove Pkwy, Loganville 30052 

11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27 Dallas Public 1010 E. Memorial Dr. , Dallas 30132 

10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 10:30 a.m. Dog River 6100 GA Highway 5 Douglasville 30135

11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, New Georgia 94 Ridge Road, Dallas 30157

11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, Conyers Rockdale 864 Green Street, Conyers 30012

10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 Centerville Branch 3025 Bethany Church Rd., Snellville 30039

10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 9 Dacula Branch 65 Main Street, Dacula 30019

10:30 Friday Feb. 10, Suwanee Branch 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024

A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown performs Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will end the "The Greatest Show on Earth" in May, following a 146-year run of performances. Kenneth Feld, the chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment, which owns the circus, told The Associated Press, declining attendance combined with high operating costs are among the reasons for closing. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Credit: Chris O'Meara

icon to expand image

Credit: Chris O'Meara

Here are some of Chick-fil-A Family night events with the Ringling Bros. clowns (This is not a complete list.  Check your nearest Chick-fil-A to see if the clowns will be performing there)

5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, Chick-fil-A Snellville 2932 Main St. W, Snellville 30078

5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26,  Chick-fil-A Stone Mountain 5075 Stone Mountain Hwy, Stone Mountain 30087

5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, Chick-fil-A Memorial Drive 5542 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain 30083

6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, Chick-fil-A, Sugarloaf & 316, 4965 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Lawrenceville 30044 

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Chick-fil-A, Ellijay 475 Howard Simmons Rd., Ellijay 30540 

12-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Chick-fil-A, East Lake 2105 Roswell Rd., Marietta 30062 

5-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, Chick-fil-A, Woodstock Dwarf House, Woodstock 9728 Highway 92, Woodstock 30188 

5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, Chick-fil-A, Calhoun 495 Highway 53 E, Calhoun 30701 

5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Chick-fil-A, Lake Dow 860 Highway 81 E, Mcdonough 30252 

5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Chick-fil-A, Truett's Grill-Mcdonough, Mcdonough 1785 Jonesboro Rd., Mcdonough 30253 

5-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, Chick-fil-A South Cobb Drive 3100 S Cobb Dr. SE, Smyrna 30080 

5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, Chick-fil-A, Glenwood Place 401 Bill Kennedy Way SE, Atlanta 30316 

5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, Chick-fil-A. Windy Hill 2661 Windy Hill Rd. SE, Marietta 30067 

5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, Chick-fil-A, Douglasville 3202 Highway 5, Douglasville 30135 

5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, Chick-fil-A, Chastain Square 4285 Roswell Rd., Atlanta 30342 

5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, Chick-fil-A, Austell Road 3951 Austell Rd., Austell 

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Chick-fil-A, West Cobb 2555 Dallas Hwy SW, Marietta 30064

"Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop. This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company," Feld said in a recent statement.

The 2017 show Circus Xtreme includes the first-ever woman ringmaster, Kristen Michelle Wilson, who took over recently when the show was in Orlando.
 Circus Xtreme includes a mix of long-time favorite acts include the human cannonball and high-wire acts but also includes newer elements such as freestyle running (tumblers) who run off of walls and BMX riders.

That time a zebra broke free in downtown Atlanta.

To see the show: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME will play Atlanta's Philips Arena from February 15 - February 20, and Duluth's Infinite Energy Arena from February 23 - March 5. Tickets are available for Philips Arena by calling 800-745-3000 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are available for Duluth's Infinite Energy Arena by calling 770.626.2464 or visiting www.InfiniteEnergyCenter.com.