Dublin Fireman’s Carnival set for this week
DUBLIN >> Depending on where you’re coming from, it might take a little longer to get to this year’s Dublin Fireman’s Carnival.
That’s because of the culvert replacement project on Route 313 just east of Dublin that has temporarily closed that stretch of Route 313.
“From Quakertown, it’s open to the firehouse. From Doylestown, they kind of have to go around,” said Dublin Volunteer Fire Company Chief Kevin Nugent.
Drivers coming from the Doylestown side can follow the detour signs leading back to Dublin, he said.
“People in town won’t have any problem,” he said. “Dublin Borough’s open.”
This year’s carnival runs July 23 to 27 at the firehouse on Route 313.
The hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday nights and 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday night. Fireworks and a chicken barbecue are scheduled for Saturday night.
DJ Lobie Entertainment provides music Tuesday night, July 23. Throg performs Wednesday, July 24. Springbrooke performs Thursday, July 25. JR’s Grades performs Friday, July 26. 3 Ton Limit performs Saturday, July 27.
The DJ has music all night; the musical groups put on two shows per night, each lasting 30 to 40 minutes, Nugent said.
This will be the third year for the Saturday night chicken barbecue, which was added for something a little different, but isn’t the only food available at the carnival, he said.
“We have food every night, pretty much standard carnival food — hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, soft pretzels, sausage sandwich, cheese steaks, and we do funnel cakes and fried Oreos,” Nugent said.
Skelly’s Amusements provides the rides, he said.
“They bring a minimum of 13 rides,” he said. The rides are a mix of ones for young and older children, he said.
The carnival company also brings some games, with the fire company offering additional ones, he said.
“We do bingo every night,” Nugent said. “The bingo’s a 50/50 pay-out, so if we get a big crowd, we pay out more money.”
There is also a 50/50 raffle with a drawing on Saturday night that has a minimum pay-out of $2,000, he said.
Wristband nights, during which people can ride all night for $25, are held on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Mega passes to ride all week are also available and can be purchased ahead of time at the firehouse from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays or at Meyers Mower Service or Grates and Grills during business hours.
“That’s $40 if you buy it before the carnival starts. It’s $45 once the carnival starts and that’s good to ride all the rides every night of the carnival,” Nugent said.
“It’s definitely a good deal if you have a couple kids and you live in town,” he said, “because a lot of people come every night while it’s in town.”
Even if you only go to the carnival two of the nights, he said, the mega pass costs less then two wristbands.
The carnival is one of the larger fundraisers used to help supplement the department’s budget, Nugent said.
“We’ve been doing a carnival for over 90 years so it’s been a long-time carnival and it’s been very successful for us over the years,” he said.