By Karen Bloom
The gentle creature stands 8 feet tall and weighs 7,000 pounds. Her owners rescued her from Thailand when she was nine months old; she is now 22 years old. Dondi can cluck like a chicken, roar like a lion, play with a hula hoop, and pick out specific items from a line-up. In all, she has over 100 behaviors that are triggered by verbal commands. Through this educational, entertaining show, visitors learn about the plight of Asian elephants.More animal antics can be seen at the Animal Park Adventure Menagerie. This mini-zoo features a variety of exotic animals from the four corners of the globe for visitors to meet and greet, including monkeys, a kangaroo, Scottish bulls, African zebus, and South African llamas. Then there are Miss Stevena's Performing Poodles. You won't believe the tricks these highly trained dogs can do. And don't forget about those racing pigs. The Hollywood Racing Pigs are actually six different varieties of pigs, including the adorable pot-bellied kind. They compete in six different events.The All American Thrill Show Circus presents amazing high-flying aerial performers. The Fearless Vincente is one of the stars of this show, with a high-wire act featuring a chair on wire. He performs a variety of thrilling tricks balancing on that wire, without a harness or any sort of protection. Also, check out the Wild West Follies. It's a whip crackin', rope spinnin' adventure starring Ruby Rose and Al Frisco. The Old West comes to Nassau Coliseum!This fair offers plenty of summer fun to keep everyone amused for hours. In the words of the show's promoters, "Expect the unexpected."
The Nassau Coliseum Fair
Open June 23 to July 9, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; also Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4. Gates open 5 p.m. on Fridays and 1 p.m. other days. Fair closes at midnight. $8 admission. For directions, events schedule and admission coupons, call (631) 501-3410 ext. 10 or visit www.nassaufair.com.
