Overcast Skies Don't Dampen Spirits at McKinley's Carnival

The weather wasn't ideal, but kids at McKinley School's annual carnival today at Jennings Beach said they were having a great time.

The carnival, McKinley PTA's biggest fundraiser of the year, continues tonight until 10 p.m. and is open on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Ralph Tarzia Jr., a fifth-grader at McKinley, said his favorite rides at the carnival included the Rip Cord and the Bumper Cars. Ralph, 10, was at the carnival with his friend, Bradley Harter, 11, a fifth-grader at Mill Hill School.

"We went on the Rip Cord once and don't want to go again," Ralph said of a ride that drops from a height of around 40 feet. "All of a sudden, it dropped. It felt like it was going up my throat. It was awesome."

Bradley said he liked the Bumper Cars and the Ali Baba ride, which was a ship-shaped ride that swung 360 degrees like the hands on a clock. "I just think it's really fun when you're going around. You get really dizzy too," Bradley said of the Ali Baba.

Judith Klinga, an eighth-grader at Roger Ludlowe Middle School, said she liked the Zero Gravity ride, which is a green wheel that spins so fast kids are pinned to the wall behind them. "It's new, and it's a lot different than anything they have," she said.

Madeleine Tommins, an eighth-grader at Roger Ludlowe Middle School, said she was partial to the Ali Baba ride. "I like the Ali Baba because it's fast, it goes up high, but it's not too intense," she said. "I also like the Rip Cord because it gives you a rush, and it's an instant thrill."

Kristin Canner, also an eighth-grader at Ludlowe,  said she liked the Cliffhanger ride. "It's different than the other rides and you get to lay on your stomach when you do it," she said.

Wes Greenop, a McKinley parent who's helping to run the carnival this year, said the carnival had to close early Friday night because of the weather, but it drew a great crowd for opening night on Thursday. "We did very well Thursday night. Last night, because of the weather, we did less than we normally would," he said. "We held it open as long as we could safely. We balanced the fun as well as the safety."

Greenop was hopeful that the weather would clear for the carnival tonight, when wristbands go on sale at 6 p.m. Kids can purchase a wristband for $20 and ride all the rides they want this evening. "The wristband is only good for the night they buy it," Greenop said.

People who don't want to buy wristbands can buy tickets for the rides - each ticket costs a dollar, and each ride requires two or three tickets. People can buy 22 tickets for $20 or 36 tickets for $30, Greenop said.

Ralph Tarzia, father of Ralph Tarzia Jr., said his son and his son's friend planned to get wristbands tonight at 6. "Once they get the wristbands, they'll be able to go from ride to ride," he said.

McKinley's carnival, which has been an annual event for about 15 years, has seen more than its share of rainy days, but last year was an exception. The carnival last year had good weather all four days, Greenop said.

At about 2 p.m. today, Greenop said revenue at the carnival was a little over 50 percent compared to a similar point last year, and was at 25 percent compared to the total revenue from last year's carnival.

The annual carnival brings in about 75 percent of the money raised every year by McKinley's PTA and goes toward field trips and cultural programs at the Thompson Street elementary school.

Greenop said the Zero Gravity and Rip Cord rides seemed to be big hits this year, and Domingo Thomas, a McKinley parent, said the Cliffhanger also was popular this year.

The carnival, run by Stewart Amusement in Trumbull, has a total of 18 rides, including rides aimed at younger kids, such as the Jumping Jumbos and Bumper Cars, Greenop said. "Of course, they have the Fun House in the back. That's a lot of fun," he added.

The carnival also has games of skill, such as Whac-a-Mole, Water Gun Fun, Hoop Shots, Roll-a-Ball, Machine Gun Alley and Huff & Puff, where kids and adults can win prizes, and food stands sell sandwiches, nachos, cotton candy, sno kones and candy apples.

Last year, gross receipts from the carnival totaled about $100,000, and, under the arrangement with Stewart Amusement, 30 percent went to McKinley's PTA. Last year, a total of about 10,000 people came to the carnival.

Fred Zinsser, who was working at McKinley's carnival today, said last year's carnival had great weather. "It was sunny. It was good temperatures. It was packed every day," he said.

But Zinsser said the weather at least year's carnival was unusual. "We're guaranteed at least one rain day with this carnival," he said, adding that one year it even snowed.

Tony Jannotta, chairman of the town's Fire Commission, came down to the carnival early this afternoon to support McKinley School. "It's a great event every year. Families come out with their kids, you see their smiling faces. Weather can't dampen our spirits," Jannotta said.

Michael Testa, father of Ashleigh Testa, a McKinley fifth-grader, said, "We're not going to let this weather bother us."

Greenop said the weather ought to break in time for wristband night tonight and that good weather was forecast for Sunday as well. "We're hopeful tomorrow will be a strong day, and today it will clear up a little more for wristbands...April's a tricky month. That's what it boils down to," he said.

But Klinga, the Ludlowe eighth-grader who was at the carnival with her friends, Tommins and Canner, said, "It's always fun."