Earlier, Dubbo City Council told the circus it would not be allowed to erect giant inflatable clowns throughout the city to promote the event as it had done in Bathurst and Orange.

While the circus was somewhat deflated by the ruling, it nevertheless set about despatching its fleet of five circus-themed promotion vehicles to perform an impromptu parade along Macquarie Street.

"It was disappointing we weren't allowed to have the inflatable clowns up because most councils are enthusiastic about it, as well as the people in the communities. It really does create a wonderful buzz," The Great Moscow Circus general manager Greg Hall said.

"They are very popular, they're fun and some people even go out of their way to have photos of themselves taken with the clowns.

"We would have liked to have worked with council to find a way to make this happen."

Mr Hall said it was particularly disappointing given the circus had worked in conjunction with local councils during the past few years to distribute free circus tickets to charities to use for fundraising.

"In the past five-and-a-half years we've helped charities raise more than half a million dollars," he said.

Dubbo City Council acting director of environmental services Steve Wallace said council had made it a condition that any circus signage was erected on-site only.

Unauthorised signage had popped up in the past, Mr Wallace said, so council took "a more proactive approach" this year.

"We got on the front foot and let the circus know it was not permissible. It was spelt out in their conditions and we requested their assistance to comply," he said.

"Obviously they wanted to put it (the inflatable clowns) up but they understood where we were coming from in that itinerant traders must comply with the same regulations as Dubbo-based traders.

"Signage has to be on-site. If you deviate from that you'll have a proliferation of signs throughout the city, people trying to outdo each other. Certainly that could be an issue with safety in regards to traffic, for instance."

Meanwhile The Great Moscow Circus received a boost of sorts yesterday when one of the inflatable clowns, Boris, who had been stolen from Orange earlier this month, was recovered at a local building site.

The circus had previously offered a $500 reward for his return.

"I have checked him out and he is a little worn and covered in mud and slush," Mr Hall said.

"But we will give him a bath and a day off."

Meanwhile Mr Hall said The Great Moscow Circus was very much looking forward to entertaining Dubbo crowds when it opened at Ollie Robbins Oval on Wednesday.

In the days leading up to opening night, organisers would erect two tents, one of which was worth $300,000, which Mr Hall expected to generate excitement

"We are playing in Dubbo for two weeks this time around and we are expecting more than 10,000 people," Mr Hall said.

"How many attractions can you say do that in Dubbo?"