It's opening night of the Royal Hanneford Circus - and families can't wait to see the lions and tigers and elephants?

"It's a family event," One circus-goer said. "It's fun."

But it's not fun and games for the MSU group S.P.A.R.

Students protesting animal rights - lined Harrison street outside the Breslin Center.

"The circus is inherently cruel to animals, the only real protection is the USDA Animal Welfare Act of 1966," SPAR President Drew Winter said.

An act, SPAR says, Royal Hanneford has violated. The USDA cited the circus for improper veterinary care and inadequate cages but SPAR said training practices are the worst.

"There's no oversight of animal training and that's where most of the abuse happens," Winter said.

They cite a 1999 video of elephant trainer Tim Frisco He's overheard telling his trainers to 'make them scream.'

"He's the poster boy for animal cruelty," Winter said. "He's caught on tape sinking a bull hook into the animals and advising his trainers do the same."

Frisco works for Carson and Barnes, the owners and trainers of the elephants in the Royal Hanneford show.

Spokesperson Bill Johnson said the video of Frisco was "edited and fictitious. We've had a license with the USDA for 72 years, if we mistreated our animals, we wouldn't have a license anymore."

SPAR's goal was to force MSU to cancel the event, instead they plan to protest the show all weekend to make their point.