By Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer Published Jul 09, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Summerfest drew 835,679 people down to the Lakefront this year, but the big Milwaukee events aren't over as the Great Circus Parade Festival is set up and rocking at Veterans Park.

And, since it's been gone for the past six years the crowds were huge and happy on Thursday afternoon.

The grounds offer a sneak peek of Sunday's big parade (which steps off at 1:30 p.m.) with live, tented circus performances from the Kelly Miller Circus, food, beverages, souvenir vendors, animal rides, those beautiful authentic circus wagon, clowns and, of course, the horses preparing for the Great Circus Parade.

I love this event because it touches all ages. Two-year-olds love it and 82-year-olds revel in the memories. It's free, family fun in the true spirit of a great Milwaukee summer.

Check out the photos above and get to the grounds to check it all out. The festival is open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Details are here.

Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.

He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.

Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.  

He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.

He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.