Big doings under the big top as Circus Vargas comes to town.

Three trapeze acts will fly and loop through the air at the same time.

Parading pachyderms will walk on their hind legs and twirl while carrying dazzling showgirls.

Poodles, cockapoos and Shih Tzus will jump through hoops and barrels and propel themselves down a slide.

Jugglers will toss rings on a unicycle, while “Sugar Ray Clownard” and “Muhammad Clownee” will duke it out, clown-style.

Yes, it’ll be circus by the sea this weekend at King Harbor in Redondo Beach.

Circus Vargas--billed as the largest American circus still performing in a tent--will give nine shows starting tonight at 8 p.m. on the marina parking lot at Harbor Drive and Beryl Street. With more than 400 performers and animals, the circus will be there through Monday.

But even before Ringmaster Joe Pon gets things going under the big top tonight, the circus will begin entertaining the South Bay.

Early this morning, the Circus Vargas crew will begin setting things up at the harbor. The public is invited to watch between 10:30 a.m. and noon, with milk and cookies provided for children.

Some of the elephants will help put up the tent, and to cool off they’ll take a dip in the ocean south of Redondo Pier at 11:30 a.m.

“Big-town entertainment with a small-town flair” is the way Circus Vargas spokeswoman Cindy Miller likes to describe the show, which admittedly plays second circus to the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

But Circus Vargas, which conjures memories of circuses of old with its red-and-blue tent, likes to think it can do things Ringling Bros. can’t.

“We bring circus to the people,” co-owner Jack Bailey said. “Cities have grown so large that Ringling plays downtown sports arenas, not where the people are. We typically play malls and fairgrounds.”

In the South Bay, the circus has pitched its tent over the years at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance and Aviation High School in Redondo Beach, as well as at King Harbor. From May 4 to 7, it will be at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington.

It was nostalgia for the Ringling show of old that prompted the late Clifford E. Vargas to start the circus in 1969 with three trucks and eight animals.

“Ringling had the largest circus in a tent when they left the big top in 1956,” said Bailey, who started working for Vargas in 1970. “They said the big top was gone forever, and we tried to revive that, to bring it back and put on a large production.”

Bailey calls his circus a “little bit of Las Vegas with traditional circus.”

These days, Circus Vargas tours the United States for nearly 11 months a year, traveling in 30 semitrailers and 57 house trailers and RVs. Its tent seats up to 5,000 people.

Special attractions in the 1990 show include animal trainer Wayne Ragen, performing with African lions and Bengal tigers. In the heft department, the circus is putting the spotlight on Colonel Joe, an 11,000-pound Indian elephant.

Not only will Colonel Joe perform with 12 other elephants and two beautiful women--”A beauty and the beast show,” Miller said--he will lead a “Carnival in Rio” finale with Carmen Miranda-style glitter costumes.

Circus Vargas aims its two-hour show at families--specifically, children. Lucky Food Centers is giving free admission coupons to youngsters 11 and under.

“That’s what we are, family entertainment,” Miller said. “There are no games of chance, no electric rides.” There are, however, pony and elephant rides.

While the circus advertises widely, managers say its best promoters are entertained audiences.

Said Bailey: “If people have a good circus experience, they’ll go to another.”

What: Circus Vargas.

When: Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 12:30, 3:30, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1, 4, 7 p.m.; Monday, 4:30, 7:30 p.m.

Where: King Harbor, Harbor Drive at Beryl Street, Redondo Beach.

Admission: $9.50, adults; $4, children; higher prices for preferred seating; children’s discounts.

Information: 374-8066.