..Moonlight elephant walk returns to downtown L.A. as circus hits town..

July 19, 2011 11:55 am

There's a lot to be seen on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on any given night -– but a parade of elephants stands out even there.Eight Asian elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus made their annual tail-to-trunk trek through the streets of downtown Los Angeles just after midnight Monday after arriving by train in the city of Vernon. Leading a group of 10 show horses and accompanied by their trainers, the pachyderm parade began at 25th and Alameda streets and lasted three miles before reaching Staples Center, the site of the upcoming Ringling Bros. shows slated for this week.

The elephant walk is meant to drum up attention for the circus' "Fully Charged" performance, which begins Wednesday at the Staples Center and runs until Sunday. The circus will tour the Southland for the next month: performing in Anaheim from July 27-Aug. 7 and in Ontario from Aug. 10-14.