Think of it as New York’s version of the running of the bulls, except — OK, it’s actually nothing like that. Every spring ahead of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus‘ spring visit to Madison Square Garden, a herd of Asian elephants — along with donkeys, stilt walkers, animal trainers and a watusi — parade their way into Manhattan and across town to MSG after taking a midnight stroll through the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The event was even immortalized in a scene in Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Hundreds of people come out to watch the surreal spectacle, and this year’s Elephant Walk was no different, despite last night’s torrential rains. Check out a slew of photos of the stroll here. The circus will be in town through April 4.