Carnival to start July 14

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Several new amusement rides for adults will be featured at the Wytheville Lions Club Charity Carnival next week. Catch N’ Air and Cliff Hanger from Cole Shows Amusement Co. will debut at the Al Jennings Athletic Field near the entrance to Wytheville Community College.
The carnival will begin Monday, July 14, and continue through Saturday, July 19. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Closing time on Friday and Saturday will be 11 p.m.
Returning to the midway this year will be such popular rides as the Zipper, Scat, Heart Flip, Sizzler, Rainbow Expo and Super Tempest. A variety of rides for children will be featured, too.
Unlimited ride specials will be available each evening. Tickets for individual rides also will be sold.
The Lions Club will operate its food stands again this year. Hot dogs, sausages, nachos and pizza will be sold along with soft drinks and bottled water.
Cotton candy and lemonade will be sold on the midway by the amusement company.
“The Lions Club owns all the stands,” noted G.W. Catron, who co-chairs the event with Brad Snapp. “It’s a local operation. All the Lions Club members operate the games and concessions and the wives sell tickets. It takes a club effort to put it on.”
The annual charity carnival is the major fundraiser for the Wytheville Lions Club. All profits from the event go toward the club’s community service projects.
“Last year was one of our better years,” Catron said. “We cleared about $30,000. About a third of the money goes to buy glasses for school kids in Wythe County.”
The high cost of gasoline, Catron said, is a concern with attendance this year. He and other club members are hoping for large crowds each evening.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .