I forgot to tell you about the carnival that was here in town. It set up on the town common a few days before July 4 and remained until July 6. The crowds disappear from the carnival about an hour before the carnival is ever scheduled to close because some things start closing up at that time. Edie and I like to go to the carnival when it's busy, full of lights and sounds and smells, but we also like to go at the very tail end when all is quiet and only a few people are milling about while the carnies are already beginning the task of packing up to move out. A few rides may still be running if anybody cares to use any remaining tickets, some food is still available before any leftovers will be disposed of, and a few games are still open for anyone who may want to take a last attempt at winning a prize.
Because we weren't able to go to the carnival during the height of all the fun, we just HAD to go when we finally had a chance, and that was right before closing time. We were only there for a short time....long enough to have some French Fries...but, by the time we left, there couldn't have been more than a dozen other people there, all the food stands were shut down, only two rides were running, and the carnival workers were busy packing up wiring, flags, mats, and small items.
The two rides that were still running looked like a lot of fun and, although I really did want to go on this one, Edie gave a firm "no". I didn't really feel like riding alone, so I walked along through the rest of the carnival with her, but I had a pout on my face for quite awhile.
Edie was more interested in the games because she had her eye on a few "little" things she wanted to win. I pointed out that we really didn't need to win any of this stuff and she pointed out we shouldn't spend the money, so we just admired the goods and moved on.
But I still wanted to go on a ride! Please? Please? It didn't matter because, although this kiddie ride looked like fun, all the kiddie rides were already closed. No, I didn't pout anymore because something else caught my eye.
Now, isn't this just so cute? Look, a bird and a dog....hmmmm, bird dog!
Carnival workers are made up of some complete family units. They live and travel in motorhomes or, more often, trailers. A good many of the families, as well as single workers, have pets that are kept pretty much out of sight. However, when all the workers are on the grounds to begin the task of taking everything down, packing up, loading up the trucks and equipment trailers, their pets are also present. To prove that this cutesy sight is true, here's another picture. These "carnival pets" were so cute that I just HAD to take another picture of them! ... But, what about the baby carriage? Well, don't believe everything you see because this is not a BABY carriage!
It's a BIRD carriage! Here are some members of a carnival family who just happen to be the owners of the parrot and the dog in the two "bird dog" pictures! The bird that was riding in that carriage is sitting on the girl's shoulder.
Well, it WAS a carnival that came to town as part of the 4th of July holiday and it WAS the final attraction of Bristol's 4th of July Celebration, so I thought it was most fitting for me to end this post with this picture. It's another worker's pet that was under one of the tents. Just look how he decorated his little home so patriotically!
8 comments on Food, Rides, Games, and Pets?
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Great fun! Now I need a corn dog and some kettle corn!
Ohhh, they had corn dogs at the stand right next to the one with the french fries
... but it was already closed! 
I didn't stay sad too long, though, not after spotting such cute animals! 
looks like fun......we were talking about Frito pies today in the office. The real old-fashioned kind where they opened a small bag of Fritos, poured on the chili and added the cheese - all in the bag. Yummmmm!
You bet that was yummmm!!! I don't know about you or where you are, but french fries loaded with salt and vinegar is very popular at carnivals, but nowhere else! Isn't that weird? And, even though cotton candy is a common sight in a lot of places, I still think a carnival is where you see more people eating it. It's just all yummmmmmy and fun!
Seems that was the perfect time to be there. An inside look at their life and it is an interesting life.
Thanks for sharing.
That's why I like to go at the end of a carnival's stay. The workers are out in full-force (they're all there on this "shift") and they just talk and mingle as they prepare to pack up or are already packing up. The kids are so adorable and love to show off their pets. They also seem to love it when people talk to them because they don't have much other opportunity to talk or be with others other than those working the carnival. And, polite? These kids, even the teens, are so polite!
It has been so long since I have gone to one of these local traveling carnivals! This one looks like it was so much fun.
AJ
It's a rather small one, but it's a great one. I remember very large carnivals being here, but they were dirty, seedy...as a kid I wasn't allowed to ride on most of the rides because the safety was so doubtful...and all through the years of growing up I knew the dangers of pick-pocketers and rip-off artists. Bristol finally said "enough is enough", found a small "family" carnival and has stayed with that same carnival ever since. It's clean, friendly, and there has not been one incident of injury when it's been here.