Amusement rides, game booths and face painting stations will once again anchor the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department’s 17th annual firemen’s carnival, which returns Wednesday, June 25, and runs through Saturday, June 28.
However, this year’s event will feature a highlight the volunteers haven’t offered since 1998 — free fireworks.
“We have pretty much everything the same as it’s been in the past,” said Volunteer Deputy Chief Tim Pambianchi. “We haven’t done the fireworks in 15 years, though.”
“It’s always something we wanted to do again, but the economics of putting it on has been difficult,” he added. “We hope to draw a lot of people out to see them and to be a part of this great community event.”
Similar to the past five years, the carnival will be held in the parking lot of East Ridge Middle School and will run from 6 to 10 every night except Saturday, when gates will open early at 5.
The fireworks will be on Friday, June 27, Mr. Pambianchi said. “They’re supposed to go off around 9:15 with the rain date being the following day — Saturday, the 28th.”
The fireworks are being sponsored by local businesses such as Pamby Motors and Union Savings Bank, as well as the school’s bus drivers through the United Service Workers Union.
Admission every night is free but people have to buy tickets for games and rides.
As they’ve done in recent years, the volunteers are offering “bracelet night” — unlimited rides for all ages at one fixed cost, $22 — all four nights.
Tufano Amusements of Cheshire will be providing the rides.
Mr. Pambianchi said there will be rides and games for younger children as well as pre-teens and teens, including a Ferris wheel, a super slide and a pirate ship.
This year, there will be a “kids corner” for children five and younger to get their faces painted.
While the carnival rides and game booths set the atmosphere with their bright neon lights, food plays an equally important role.
The volunteers will be serving standard festival food — hamburgers, hot dogs, fried dough, while also selling soda and water.
“We’ll be taking care of the food every night so bring an appetite,” Mr. Pambianchi said.
As part of the fireworks night on Friday, attendees may buy glow sticks and bracelets.
The carnival is typically the department’s most important fund-raiser. All proceeds go toward training, purchasing equipment and gear, and general expenses for the 60-person volunteer staff.
“It’s a department effort that we all enjoy doing and always have fun putting on for the public,” Mr. Pambianchi said. “We just have to pray for some good weather.”
The department’s website, RidgefieldVFD.com, tells about the carnival and will have weather updates throughout the carnival.
Mr. Pambianchi added that people may get updates on the volunteer department’s Twitter account and Facebook page.
Parking will be at East Ridge Middle School’s rear lot, the Winter Garden ice rink, Veterans Park School, and the old high school. Fire police will be stationed at crosswalks to help townspeople cross and for traffic control.