Tunxis Hose Carnival Opens Thursday

It's an annual tradition. Young families bring their children for the first time to see the fireworks, ride the rides and eat cotton candy. Older kids wander the grounds in giggling swarms while high schoolers ride the ferris wheel with a boyfriend or girlfriend and look out over the town. A few years later, the cycle repeats and so it has been for 117 years.

This year's Tunxis Hose Carnival at Union School will mark the 118th celebration the Unionville fire department has hosted, though it started out as a "field day," Chief Brian Hunter Jr. said.

“It’s a tradition we and the town carry on,” Hunter said. “It’s our biggest fundraiser and also the most work, but the town really supports it and everybody looks forward to it.”

“All the townspeople have always looked forward to it,” said Rick Bouchard, the past Tunxis Hose Company No. 1 chief who still presides over the carnival grounds. “It’s a blue-collar town. Many families can’t afford to go on vacation and they look forward to it all year. We do it so many people can come and enjoy themselves.”

The firefighters have dropped the Wednesday night, so the carnival beings Thursday at 6 p.m. with family night. Purchase of a bracelet gets you admission to all the rides, all night.

On Friday, the fireworks will be set off at about 9:30 p.m. They are set up on the back right corner of the Union School field, so any place with an unhindered view of the area makes a good spot to watch them. Many people pack into the school parking lot or the other side of the field, but some watch from the bridge, the cemetery or houses along neighboring streets.

Saturday the parade passes by with fire trucks and firefighters from all over the area stepping off at 6 p.m. The carnival will also be open. In case of rain on Friday, the fireworks display will be held Saturday.

Each night firefighters will serve up hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage burgers and fried dough (with Uncle Bill’s secret sauce), water, soda and beer. You’ll also see them running a few games.

“We want our people to be the ones the public deals with,” Bouchard said. “You’ll see us making the food and we run several games and sell tickets.”

In addition to the rides, food and games, the 50 members of Tunxis Hose also run a raffle. Tickets will be available each night on the carnival grounds and the drawing will be Saturday at 9 p.m.

This year’s raffle prizes include: 

1st : Samsung 46” 1080p 120 Hz LCD HD Flat Screen Television
2nd:$300.00 Gift Certificate Redeemable at Monarch Jewelers
3rd: $250.00 Gift Certificate Redeemable at Firehouse Discount Oil
4th: $200.00 Gift Certificate Redeemable at Mobil 
5th: Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device with Free 3G + Wi-Fi 
6th: Nintendo Wii Game Console with Hardware Bundle 
7th: $100.00 Gift Certificate Redeemable at Stop & Shop