All over the four-state area, summer means it’s time for the local carnival, an annual tradition that exemplifies small town, family entertainment.  Throughout the region, each community has its own “carnival week”, a time when the local community gets together to eat, play, raise money for various civic organizations, and mingle.

This week marks the annual Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company Carnival, a local entertainment institution that’s been going for over 75 years.   Generations of families have experienced what is simply known as “the carnival” – but what makes it and others like it so special?

The Anticipation

For a small town, the carnival is a big deal.  All summer, posters have been up advertising carnival week.  Everyone waits in anticipation of the announcement of the week’s entertainment line-up.  Kids bug their parents to buy them “all-night” ride tickets.  Charity organizers gather volunteers and ready their booths.  The day before the carnival, kids beg their parents just to ride by the carnival grounds, so they can see what rides have been brought in for this year’s festivities.

 

The Carnival “Experience”

Watch any kid’s face that has just entered the carnival grounds.  Their eyes are wide in amazement and their heads swivel about in all directions.  They are overwhelmed in a sensory overload of lights, the whirling movement of the rides, the smell of popcorn and cotton candy, and the music blaring from the speakers.  For adults it’s the kindled memories of their childhood experience, now seen fresh from a new perspective through their children.  There’s lots of pointing, tugging of arms, and “can we get on that?”  The carnival builds life-lasting memories.  For many kids, it’s their first experience riding an amusement park-type ride.  Who can forget the first time they grasped onto the mane of that colorful merry-go-round horse as it bobbed up and down to calliope music?  Can you remember the first time you rode a Ferris wheel?  Where was the first time your parents ever let you go off and ride “the Scrambler” on your own?  It was probably at the local carnival.

The Food

Carnival food screams summer, and who can resist a fried country ham sandwich, a hot dog, or some hand-cut french-fries (the Clear Spring carnival ones are legendary).  How about a big glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, a tall iced tea, or a hand dipped ice cream cone?  The carnival has it all.

 

The Entertainment

Folks ready for each night’s musical offerings by lining up their lawn chairs hours in advance of the evening’s shows.  There’s something for everyone.  This year, the Clear Spring carnival features a rock band made up of local school teachers, an Elvis Impersonator, a blue grass band, and a “Lynyrd Skynyrd” tribute band, to name a few.  Wow, you’d have to go Atlantic City or Las Vegas to see that kind of variety anywhere else.  It’s a cheap night of entertainment as well.  For only ten dollars, you could walk away with a live goldfish, a “SpongeBob Square Pants” stuffed toy, a Jimmy Johnson shot glass, a plastic kazoo, and still have money left over to play a few cards of bingo and try your luck on a tip jar – all while listening to an Amish rock-n-roll cover band (take that, Vegas).

The Sense of Community

It takes a lot of community help to put on a carnival.  Look into the food stalls or drink stands as you stroll around – those are all local volunteers.  The money spent at many of the booths benefit community organizations or projects, like the high school band or local football team.  People come to see and be seen.  It’s the social event of the summer.  Kids come to see their friends that they’ve missed all summer from school.  Teenagers come to show off their summer tans or new sweethearts.  Adults come to say “hello” to old friends and catch up on local news or gossip.  Everywhere you look there are smiles, laughter, and conversation.

 

Check out your local summer carnival.  It’s a nostalgic blast and always a fun diversion (for at least one night).  Mmmmmmmm, I can taste the french-fries already.