20060527 KDDC Gamber Union Bridge and St John Carnival schedules

Carnival season to begin early

The carnival season for the season kicks off for the summer with the Gamber and Union Bridge firefighters’ annual event and the St. John Catholic Church carnival. (The hyperlinks should take you to each carnival’s Web-page.)

Carrie Ann Knauer with the Carroll County Times has the story in the Saturday, May 27^th, 2006 edition of the Carroll County Times.

The Carroll County Times does not use permalinks – please find their entire article pasted below:

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Carnival season to begin early

By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, May 27, 2006

The Carroll County carnival season will kick off two days early this year as the Gamber and Community fire company opens its carnival today.

Carnivals are a major fundraising source for Carroll County's fire companies, said Clay Myers, public information officer for Gamber. The carnivals usually run from Monday to Saturday, so if it rains one of those days, you lose one-sixth of your profits, Myers said.

Gamber's carnival has traditionally started on Memorial Day, but it has seemed like every year it got rained out one or two nights, he said. So when the carnival company told them this winter that they didn't have any bookings the week before Memorial Day, both parties agreed it would be a good idea to start the carnival on a Saturday this year. They hope the two extra days will be a buffer for any rained-out nights, Myers said.

While offering the two extra nights didn't cost the fire company any extra money up front, it has been more difficult to get volunteers to work the two extra days, he said.

"Carnival week is really hard for everyone," Myers said. "We're just keeping our fingers crossed for eight nights of [great] weather."

One small change for Sunday at the carnival is that there will be no gambling or games of chance, such as bingo or the gun jar, as is required by county law, Myers said. The fire company will still be able to sell raffle tickets, since the drawing won't be until the following Saturday, he said, and all of the carnival games, such as darts and basketball toss, will be carried on.

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Along with the Gamber and Community fire company carnival, the Union Bridge volunteer fire company will also hold its fire carnival this week, starting Monday.

Dave Buffington, fire carnival chairman, said the fire company enjoys having the carnival start on Memorial Day. Many of the town residents attend the Memorial Day service organized by the Union Bridge VFW, which will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, and then come to the carnival for dinner, Buffington said.

"It kind of works hand in hand," Buffington said. "Memorial Day is always a big event."

What makes the Union Bridge carnival special is that all of the food is homemade, Buffington said. Fried chicken, pit beef, pit turkey, Italian sausage, pizza and funnel cakes - volunteers within the community prepare all of it, he said.

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St. John Church and School members are looking forward to kicking off their carnival on Monday as well. Jenny Scott, president of the school's Parents, Teachers and Friends Association, said the carnival committee will build on its experiences from the first carnival last year to make this year's carnival bigger and better.

Scott said the theme of this year's carnival will be "A Christian Family Tradition." The church has a congregation of about 14,000 people, she said, so many of the members don't get to meet at the usual church events. The carnival, however, was an opportunity for all different sectors of the church to meet and interact, Scott said.

"We had lots of young families," Scott said, and will try to offer even more games for the very young children who come to the carnival.

Even in its first year, the carnival quickly became one of the biggest fundraisers for the church, Scott said. The money raised from the carnival will go toward the school and youth ministries, she said.

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If you go:

Gamber Carnival Schedule

n Today: Entertainment by Iron Ridge (bluegrass)

n Sunday: Entertainment by Bob Plunkert and Real Country

n Monday: Fireworks at night, entertainment by Ten Cent Penny Band (classic country rock)

n Tuesday: Entertainment by Salem Bottom Boys (bluegrass)

n Wednesday: Entertainment by Big Cam and the Lifters (oldies)

n Thursday: Entertainment by Just Plain Country

n Friday: Entertainment by C.B. Pickers (bluegrass)

n June 3: Raffle drawings, entertainment by Poison Whiskey (good ol' classic southern rock)

Carnival opens 6 p.m. nightly, special ride prices on Tuesday and Thursday.

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St. John Carnival Schedule

n Monday: Noon to 5 p.m. matinee rides after the Memorial Day Parade

n Tuesday: 6 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Big Cam & the Lifters

n Wednesday: 6 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Full Gospel Boogie Band

n Thursday: 6 to 10 p.m., Karaoke Night, "Your Idol Time"

n Friday: 6 to 11 p.m., entertainment by Satyr Hill Band

n Saturday: Matinee rides from noon to 4 p.m., entertainment by Aces Up

Discount tickets available in advance at St. John School; call 410-848-4744.

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Union Bridge Carnival Schedule

n Monday: 6 p.m. Memorial Day Service at Mountain View Cemetery (across from 7-Eleven), entertainment by Country Fever

n Tuesday: Special Ride Night from 7 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Tall in the Saddle (country variety)

n Wednesday: Fireman's Parade at 7 p.m.

n Thursday: Special Ride Night from 7 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Bob Plunkert and Real Country

n Friday: Entertainment by No Alibi (country rock)

n Saturday: Raffle drawings, entertainment by No Xit Band (rock)

Lunches served 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Dinner platters served 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday.