By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The highly anticipated Needham Carnival returned to Needham High School this past weekend for the seventh time. Sponsored by the Rotary Club, Needhamites filed in all throughout the weekend to enjoy these rides and attractions with family and friends.
Despite yet another heat wave that swept through New England, there was finally a break in the high temperatures leading to the perfect weather for this weekend-long event. Crowds of carnival-goers were seen smiling from ear to ear, with little ones laughing and running around.
The Needham Carnival was available to all the public with no admission fee and included a variety of kiddie rides, thrill rides, games, and food. No matter what age you were, there was a little something for everyone.
Included among the rides were the famous Ferris Wheel, Cliff Hanger, Mardi Gras, Carousel and Casino. Parents and loved ones stood outside each ride, snapping pictures and recording videos of their children having the time of their lives.
Ted Shaughnessy, the head honcho of the Needham Carnival, along with other Rotary Club members, walked around the event making sure everyone was having a safe and happy time. When speaking with Shaughnessy about this Carnival, he stated, “We run this as a family fun community event. We aren’t like a lot of carnivals where they set up and charge you entry fees. We just want everyone to have fun. We have one guy that comes every year and just buys a fried Oreo. We have an elderly couple that usually comes for one ride on the Ferris Wheel. There are others that just like to walk through and see the joy that this Carnival brings. That is really what this is all about. When you walk around here, you can tell just how much fun everyone is having. It really is a sight to see. We are limited in size, we could have a lot more stuff if we had some more room but we have to take into account room for parking, people to walk around, the food, etc. I also really don’t want to set anything up across the street or anything due to the safety of the little kids around here.”
When this Carnival was first brought to Needham seven years ago, Shaughnessy mentioned that it had taken him about ten years to pull it all together. With many under his belt now, things are a lot smoother, but there is still a process that is done each time. “We have a new building commissioner this year,” Shaughnessy stated, “so he was up here going through everything. Safety inspections for the equipment are done by special state safety inspectors. We obviously have all the permits and constantly check out for safety protocols. The state inspectors make every ride run beforehand and check everything prior to us opening up.”
Summer events like these are a great way to get families and friends out and about and to really bring the community together. It can be said with ease that all look forward to next year’s carnival here in Needham.
For information about the Rotary Club and the different events that they run, please visit their website at www.needhamrotaryclub.org.
