The Florida-based circus that’s being investigated after one of its tents collapsed in New Hampshire on Monday, killing a father and daughter and injuring at least 32 others, is going ahead with plans for two scheduled shows in Sanford on Sunday.

Walker International Events will perform two “open air” shows at Blouin Field in Sanford, according to a posting on the Sanford municipal website Thursday.

The posting states that the circus is “still coming” but that the shows would be “open air.”

Walker had been scheduled to do two shows in tents in Sanford on Sunday. After the accident Monday, Walker cancelled its other shows scheduled for this week.

No one at Walker’s Florida headquarters could be reached Thursday to provide more details of the change in plans. The Sanford shows are being sponsored by the Sanford’s parks and recreation department, and no one there could be reached for comment Thursday evening.

Walker is also scheduled to perform at the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds in South Hiram on Monday and Tuesday. According to Walker’s website, those shows are still on.

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The accident Monday in Lancaster, New Hampshire, happened around 5:46 p.m., when a severe storm blew down the circus tent. New Hampshire fire officials are investigating and trying to determine why the show went on when a severe storm warning had been issued for the area, and whether the circus had the proper approvals.

On Wednesday, Walker posted a statement on its Facebook page saying that everyone in the company was “reeling” from the fatal accident.

“We have been reeling with the shock of these events. Our very deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families whose lives were affected. We cannot begin to express the pain and sadness we feel,” the statement read.

Forty-one-year-old Robert Young and his 8-year-old daughter, Annabelle, of Concord, Vermont, were killed in the accident.

The Sanford performances were to be the third time Walker’s circus had played the town, said parks director Marcel Blouin on Tuesday. Blouin said circus staff were “professional” and always leave the circus site as clean as they found it. Walker’s tent and equipment have been checked by local fire officials, he said.


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