Zerbinis performs during the Zerbinis Poodle Review the Araba Shriners Circus at the Lee Civic Center on Friday.

The Araba Shriners Circus no longer has elephants, lions or tigers, but there were certainly many thrills and laughs to be had as the Lee Civic Center played host to three shows Friday, put on the Circus Hollywood.

There were still animals, including performing pigs, goats and poodles. But there were also jugglers, clowns, acrobats and motorcyclists to bring the beauty and danger in three rings throughout the two-hour performances.

And the shows were all for a great cause, to help the Shriners help those kids in need of medical help.

Araba Shriners Potentate Willie Llanillo said the circus is used to make people aware of the organization and what it does to help the Shriners’ hospitals, especially the one in Tampa.

“We support the hospitals with our fundraising. We send kids to the hospital, whether it’s for burns or other problems, free of charge and they can continue to go until their 18 years old,” Llanillo said.

Rulito the Clown performs an act with the volunteer from the audience at the Araba Shriners Circus at the Lee Civic Center on Friday.

The 11 a.m. show allowed school children in for free, while the 3 p.m. show was seen by some of the littlest kids and their parents. It was the 7 p.m. show that always bring the most people and the makeshift bleachers were packed.

The circus can be a hard life, as the performers are on the road 11 months out of the year and doing the annual Christmas shows in Bradenton.

One of the feature acts was the Pork Chop Review, which was seen on the TV show “America’s Got Talent.” Nina Kimes, who helps her husband with the pigs in the show, said the family has been doing the show for three generations.

“It features trained barnyard animals and we do circuses and fairs across the country. The show helped us with our fans and on education regarding how we train and treat the animals and how smart and lovable pigs are,” said Kimes, who’s from Myakka City.

You can’t have a circus without a ringmaster and Devin Chandler has been doing that for more than 20 years, using his singing and entertainment ability to keep the fans interested.

Duo Devotion perform in tandem high above the stage at the Araba Shriners Circus at the Lee Civic Center on Friday.

“I like the live interaction I have with people and doing these more advanced productions with the singing and exciting opening,” Chandler said. “I also love seeing the families enjoying the show, sometimes three and four generations. That’s a blast.”

And there were the clowns.

Not just the professional ones, but also the Shriners who dress in clown outfits and participate in the circus throughout the performance. Harrison Crossland, who chaired the circus this year, was among them.

“I’ve been with Araba Shriners for 22 years and we’ve done it every year (they started the circus in 1906). In Atlanta, they do a whole week of the circus and make millions of dollars for the hospital up there. The more you make, the more you can give to the kids,” Crossland said.

What really mattered is that the fans had a good time. Kristie Washington brought her two daughters and loves when the Shriners Circus comes to town.

Ulises walks the wheel high above the floor at the Araba Shriners Circus at the Lee Civic Center on Friday.

“They do so much good for all the communities and it’s amazing they put on the show for us and we’re happy to be here,” Washington said, who got the tickets from her friend.

As for the kids, the motorcycle Globe of Death was the overwhelming favorite.

“I liked the motorcycles. I was scared for every single one, like the man (balancing) on the chairs,” daughter Ava Washington said.

The Shriners have 22 children’s hospitals throughout the country, as well as one in Mexico and Canada. The Shriners provide transportation to children and their families to and from the hospitals, many of which specialize in certain medical areas.