- By Dan Veaner
- Opinions
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I've taken my kids to the Lansing Fire Department Carnival every year, but this is the first time I spent the entire time there. And while it was a long haul, it was great fun to watch all the happy faces go by. The Star had a table at the carnival this year to introduce us to the community, prior to our official launch on July 22. So we had a bird's eye view of the goings on.
We were located just outside the big tent where the performance stage was. I have to admit I was alarmed when I heard there would be Karaoke the first night, because I have had frightening experience with enforced corporate karaoke! So I was amazed at the talent of the people who stepped up Thursday night, including some truly pop-star quality singers.
We gave away balloons, mouse pads, refrigerator magnets and pencils, but it was the balloons that attracted the littlest visitors. One repeat visitor seemed to want all the balloons, and considering his size it would have been a sight if he'd gotten his wish!
Of course the rides and games were what attracted the kids, and they were going non-stop. We enjoyed watching kids clutching their prizes, and then passing by again with bigger prizes they had traded up for when they won again. A crowd gathered whenever the resident clown began juggling, and I was glad when he performed near our table, because I'm a sucker for jugglers. Friday's fireworks were spectacular, well worth staying until 10 PM. The Tompkins County Sheriff's office brought a spinning car, and the Army had a display. A lot of hot dogs and hamburgers passed our table, though I thought the steamed clams were stand-out good.
We participated in the Saturday parade, and for me there were two thrills. First, our family hitched a ride from the Central Fire Station to the beginning of the parade near Woods Edge in a fire truck. Seeing a fire engine from the inside reminded me of the dedication and professionalism shown by all the members of the Lansing Fire Department. Second, we had the joy of marching behind the Girl Scouts and Brownies, who sang us all the way up Ridge Road and back to the fire station.
My family enjoyed meeting a lot of people and were grateful for the opportunity to be there to introduce the Star.
A final word about the weather: while the weekend was somewhat rainy the weather was mostly good. Friday at 5:30 the sky opened up and pelted the carnival with so much water I thought I saw some some fish swimming by! But precisely at 6 PM when the Carnival was set to begin, the rain passed and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. With cooperation like that how could the carnival been anything but the success it was?
