The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
RAINMAKER RETURNS
Coleman Bros. Carnival starts 101st season in city today
MIDDLETOWN >> Locals know rain clouds loom when they first spy carnival posters and lawn signs appearing every year in early spring.
The Coleman Bros. Shows carnival, known in local lore as “The Rainmaker,” has been a city tradition since 1916. For as long as anyone can remember, wet weather has come part and parcel with the exhilarating and sometimes stomach-turning rides, the games of chance and calls of the midway barkers and simple pleasures of a perfectly crafted candy apple or freshly spun cotton candy.
The carnival, which opens today and runs through April 15, is expected to see at least one full day of precipitation — on opening day.
According to The Weather Channel forecast, there’s a 100
The carnival, which opens today and runs through April 15, is expected to see at least one full day of precipitation — on opening day.
percent chance of rain and thundershowers Thursday; Friday looks a little better with cloudy skies and Saturday will be partly cloudy — although both days there is a 10-percent chance of rain. Temperatures are expected to hover around 50 degrees all three days.
Sunday looks to be the best day of the weekend: sunny and 61 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.
Mary Oakes, sister of Tim Coleman, runs the carnival along with Tim Coleman and his nephew, Bob Coleman. The three represent the fourth generation of the carnival since its beginning 101 years ago with Richard “Dick” Coleman.
Then-27-year-old Dick Coleman, a clothing store salesman who moonlighted as a sports promoter, set up a second-hand steam-powered merry-go-round under the Portland Bridge. The purchase price was $250, a sizable chunk of change in 1916.
Soon, Dick Coleman built up a bigger carnival with the help of his brothers, Tim and Tom Coleman, and the operation has since passed through three generations of Colemans.
The traveling amusement park traditionally moves around the state and into parts of New York for its yearly schedule.
According to a post on Coleman’s Facebook page, wristbands will be sold both Thursdays and Saturdays, and on Tuesday and Sunday. “Weather looks great except for Thursday (have to keep up our reputation) but one day is better than every day!” the post reads.
The carnival, held at Palmer Field off Washington Street in Middletown, will open weekdays at 6 p.m. and weekends at 1 p.m. On Thursday and Tuesday, wristbands will be sold from 6 to 9 p.m. and may be used until closing. On Saturday and Sunday, wristbands will be sold from 1 to 4 p.m. and are valid until 6.
The carnival moves on to Willimantic from April 19-23, then Hartford’s Pope Park April 26 to May 7.
For more information, see Coleman Brothers Shows Inc. on Facebook or the website at colemanbrosshows.com.