Aerial artists, performing animals, and clowns take over for ballplayers today at Bowman Field as the world’s largest outdoor circus moves in for two performances.

Tom Packs’ Police Circus which performs without the usual big top, will show at 2:30 and 8:30 at the West End ballfield.

This is the third consecutive year the circus has played here under the sponsorship of the Williamsport Bureau of Police.

The outdoor show was scheduled to arrive in the city early today. Trucks and trailers were to set up inside and outside the ballpark.

The West Branch Manufacturers Association will have 1,500 boys and girls from the city’s 12 playgrounds as guests at the afternoon performance. The 6 to 14-year-olds will be supervised by the Williamsport Recreation Commission and will meet at the Memorial Park playground at 1 p.m. to get their tickets.

Mayor Clifford Harman, himself an ex-patrolman, will have 80 guests from the Williamsport Home and Park Home as personal guests at the matinee.

One of the features of this year’s circus is Captain Frank Frakes, who blows himself up in a coffin with 13 sticks of high explosives.

Members of the Williamsport Bureau of Police have been selling tickets for the past few weeks. The bureau’s share of the receipts is used to help uniformed officers buy clothing since the city does not provide uniforms.