With warm weather lingering into September, Texans learn to look beyond the thermometer for signs of fall – maybe the rush of school activities or the first football game.
But there’s another sign of fall in full swing – the big fall carnival.
For me, this has always been sheer fun. As a child, I would count the days each fall until the local church carnival, wondering if my family held the winning ticket to the carnival raffle’s grand prize.
And even though we never did, I was never disappointed – there was always enough fun to please everyone for hours. In fact, it was so much fun that the event attracted throngs of families from the entire community, whether church members or not.
Where else could you find beer, bingo and polka dancing for the adults side by side with sno cones, a dunking booth and midway games for the kids?
I thought this kind of community, family-oriented carnival died out with five-and-dime stores and other institutions of yesteryear, until I had children of my own and discovered the local church carnival – the St. Thomas Aquinas Fall Carnival. And I discovered that they’ve improved upon the carnival I’d cherished in my memory.
This year, the 41st annual St. Thomas Aquinas Fall Carnival is kicked off Sept. 23 with bingo at 7:30 p.m. under a huge carnival tent on Abrams at Kenwood.
Then Sept. 24, from noon to 10 p.m., will be packed with activities for all ages. The adventurous can strap on foam suits and engage in Sumo wrestling on inflated mats; become a star at the Karaoke stage with a DJ announcing their debut; or don giant inflatable boxing gloves for a few rounds of bounce boxing in an inflatable ring.
Small children can enjoy pony rides, face painting and classic midway games. For the first time, artisans and craftsmen from the Lakewood Craft Mall will be selling their wares. And since this year’s theme is “Viva St. Thomas,” there will be fajitas and folklorico dancers on hand to lend a “fiesta” flare to the event.
It is open to the public, admission is free and activities are pay-as-you-go. So if you’re looking for some good family entertainment, put this event on your calendar.
