Annual Carnival Set for School Vacation Week

The following was provided by the Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association:

Children’s laughter, shrieks of excitement, calliope music, and a cacophony of carnival sounds will soon fill the air in downtown Wakefield. The Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association (WCNA) will sponsor the annual April School Vacation Carnival at the Galvin Middle School’s parking lot. Weather permitting, the Carnival will open at 6pm on Tuesday, April 16th. The Carnival’s operating hours will be: Tuesday, April 16, 6pm  through 10pm; Wednesday, April 17  through Friday, April 19, 2pm through 10pm; and Saturday, April 20, noon through 10pm. The Carnival closes Saturday night so that the parking lot can be readied for school use on Monday, April 22.

Teens and adult Carnival-goers looking for an adrenaline rush will thrill to high flying and fast spinning rides – while younger folks will enjoy the tamer and always popular rides such as the merry-go-round, mini-coaster, and train ride. Competitive visitors of all ages can try their skill and test their luck at the many midway games. And everyone will enjoy tasty Carnival favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, corn dogs, taffy apples, cotton candy, fried dough, pizza, and Italian ice.

Individual ride tickets and multi-hour wristband passes will be available at the ticket booth. Carnival visitors who purchase a wristband will enjoy unlimited amusement rides for one afternoon or one evening period. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, riders can choose 2-6pm or 6-10pm. Saturday’s wristbands will be good for a 5- hour period, either Noon-5pm or 5-10pm.

For many years, the Carnival had been a major fund raising event for the Wakefield Independence Day Committee (WIDC), which produced the town’s traditional July 4th parade. For the past 20 years, the WIDC and the Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association have worked cooperatively to support each other’s activities. Upon the WIDC’s decision last year to cease operations, the WCNA assumed sponsorship of the Carnival.

Proceeds from this year’s event, along with proceeds from the WCNA’s long-running and popular Festival by the Lake, will support WCNA projects such as the Spaulding Street playground, bandstand maintenance, Frosty the Snowman visit and holiday lights, Easter egg hunt, Rockery maintenance, and the Upper Common lighting, benches, and irrigation system. For more information about the Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association, visit www.wcna.org.