Annual Kiddie Carnival returns June 27
ATHENS – It’s been a tradition for many years, drawing people from the Madison area for fun in Athens. The Athens Lions Club annual Kiddie Carnival, a treasure of small scale nostalgic carnival rides, will open June 27.
The Carnival has 10 rides for toddlers and young children, including the Sky Fighter rockets which circle with lights flashing and sound effects. Kids and families wait in line for delicious concession favorites including funnel cakes, popcorn and hamburgers. Also available are corn dogs, chicken sandwiches, chicken fries, snow cones, dippin dots and, of course, cotton candy.
The Kiddie Carnival has provided generations of fun for kids and their parents, grandparents and friends from this same site since 1957. The Kiddie Carnival will open June 27, with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. and rides opening around 6:30 p.m. Each ride requires just one 50 cent ticket. Families with young children continue to learn about Athens unique, old time kiddie carnival operated by the Athens Lions Club.
A favorite ride of most of the kids attending is a small scale train circling on its track with full size smiles on the kids’ faces riding it. Other rides include small and large swings, a mini ferris wheel, parachute ride and a scrambler. A small scale roller coaster with 5 seats circles while kids hold on as it zips around the track. Enjoyed by toddlers are the old fashion pedal cars that go around and the horses on the carousel, as their parents stand beside them on the ride. For a fun night of family time, older siblings and others of all ages often enjoy playing bingo.
The Kiddie Carnival is operated by Athens Lions Club members and numerous other volunteers. These include spouses of club members, the Leo Club, local high school Sub Deb and Pi Beta sororities and other civic groups, businesses employees and individual volunteers helping to make it possible.
A part of the funds from this year’s Kiddie Carnival will be used to fund five scholarships recently awarded to local high school seniors who volunteered at the carnival and met other criteria. Lions International key focus area is sight. The Athens Lions Club supports this by helping those in the Athens who qualify with sight exams or glasses, as well as collecting used eyeglasses to be recycled. In the past year they have supported Alabama Lions Sight Conservation Association, Camp ASCCA/Camp Seale Harris, a camp for youth with diabetes. Also, many local causes and organizations through manpower or funding
Keith Barksdale, President of Athens Lions, said “The Kiddie Carnival takes me back to my childhood as a young boy. I lived one block away from it and went most every night it was open. I thoroughly enjoy getting to be a part of it as a Lion member. Seeing the expressions on the kids’ faces and their parents makes all the hard work worth the effort. The people of Athens and the surrounding communities support the Lions Club and the Kiddie Carnival. Through their generosity, we are able to help many people in many different ways.”
The Kiddie Carnival is located at 309 E Forrest Street. It is open every Thursday, Friday & Saturday night June 27-August 3 (closed July 4th) from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Additional information about the Kiddie Carnival can be found at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/athensal/ or their Facebook page: Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival.
