Carnival highlights Falls ‘jewel’ of a park
Stamford Centre Volunteer Firemen’s Association present 67th annual event
Bennett Cote’s parents weren’t too sure if the young boy would be reduced to tears or not by the dragon-themed Dragon Wagon coaster at the annual Niagara Falls Carnival, but there was nothing to fear.
The little boy’s face beamed as he rode the ride on the midway at Firemen’s Park, holding on to his hat while Dione McSpadden’s mouth was open in awe as the cars undulated up and down.
Lincoln Slocum of Niagara
Falls wasn’t as interested in the rides as he was the inflatable Thor’s hammer that he won in a game of chance. The youngster struck his best superhero pose while wielding the plastic Mjolnir.
Nearby, three-year-old Kailynn Barker of St. Catharines had her own obsession: the ducks floating in a circle in water at the Duck Pond stand. With the help of mom Emily, who gave her a boost, she busied herself snapping up various floating prizes.
For the volunteers with the Stamford Centre Volunteers Firemen’s Association, who put on the big carnival at the park they own and maintain on Mountain Road each year, seeing all those smiling kids’ faces made the months of work it takes to organize the event now in its 67th year worth it.
Ross Gigliotti, chair of this year’s carnival that ran from Wednesday to Saturday, said the service club members know the park that people enjoy hiking and walking their dogs in, and the annual carnival, boost quality of life for city residents and visitors alike.
“That’s why we do it: it’s about giving back to the community,” he said on the midway on Friday night.
On almost any given day, club members volunteer their time cutting the grass or sprucing up the park, which the carnival was moved to from its old home on Stamford Green several years ago after the new clubhouse was opened at the park.
“We feel this is a jewel of Niagara,” said Gigliotti. “There’s no other park that matches Firemen’s Park.”
Barkers on the midway did their best to entice people to try their hand at games such as tossing darts at balloons, with the carrot of plush, stuffed animals hanging on walls. The enticing scent of French fries, and Texas beef burgers and the sight of strawberry shortcake got people in the food for eating on the midway.
Gigliotti, a lifelong Niagara Falls resident who still vividly recalls tobogganing in the park as a child, said he and fellow club members were thrilled to bring the carnival to the park to showcase it and the new clubhouse, hoping even more people and groups visit the park.
“There is nowhere I’d rather be than in this beautiful park,” he said.