DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Carnival is back this week after a two-year absence caused by the pandemic. 

 

The carnival is a popular community staple that's also a fundraiser for local organizations. This year it runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the American Legion. 

 

"It brings everybody together as a community to raise a ton of money for the nonprofit organizations and the high school sports activities and local Fire Department, churches that have associations to CRA," said Daniel Downer, senior member of the Dalton Fair Association and a Fire Department representative. "It's just a culmination of people working together."

 

Although the fair is a lot of work, the nonprofits getting revenue from the fundraising can benefit a lot of local people.

 

"It is a great week of fundraising for local agencies to basically make some money ... that's able to be used within town, throughout the year," said fair association President Brendan Ronayne. "So it's a lot of work for a week, but a lot of people benefit from it throughout the year."

 

Alison Peters, executive director of the Community Recreation Association, also said the carnival is a great way for community members to get out and see people that they may not see very often. 

 

"It's good for our families, it just gives them a fun activity to do together outdoors. It also gives our nonprofit organizations an opportunity to raise some funds for their programs. It's just a way in general for the community to get out and see each other," Peters said. "Because, that's what happens. You go down there and you start wandering around. And you see people that you might only see once a year or a couple of times a year, but just everybody comes out for it."

 

Organizers say the carnival can be a safe way to get together with the community and family despite the pandemic. 

 

"I think it's just a nice way to gather as a community set up for people to get together. From the outside, especially this time, you know, everything is going on, we haven't been able to do one in two or three years. So just to be able to be outside and see people have fun," Ronayne said. 

 

Families can purchase wrist bands on Saturday and Sunday with unlimited ride access from noon to 5; prices vary. Tickets will be sold for $8 for a sheet of 10 and all tickets bought this year can be used next year. Children with learning disabilities will receive a discounted price of $10 for wrist bands but must register at a booth near the main entrance between the hours of noon and 2. They will also receive vouchers for free food. 

 

Tickets can also be purchased at a 30 percent discounted price from the Community Recreation Association, Fire Department, Dalton Benefit Association or any of the participating nonprofits.

 

"We have fireworks on on Friday and Saturday night. So a lot of families come out for that. Pretty special. They're lining the streets, in the neighborhoods to see the fireworks. So that's a really nice. It's kind of good old fashioned fun," Peters said. "They're just getting on the carnival rides and walking around and eating french fries and lemonade and ice cream and fried dough, all that good stuff. All that bad stuff."

 

The carnival will be open at 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Saturday from noon until 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 5. The fireworks start at about 9:30 on Friday and Saturday. 

 

Eight organizations will have fundraising booths: the CRA, Dalton Benefit Association, Fire Department, First Congregational Church, St. Agnes' Church, Wahconah Regional High cheerleaders, Wahconah swim team, and 12th Man Club with assistance from The Lions Club. Some will have food and others games.

 

The Dalton Fair Association is made up of the CRA, Fire Department and Benefit Association. They plan the event and get it approved by the town.

 

The process of approving the carnival was different from previous years because of COVID-19, which has required more regulation.

 

"I'd say we've definitely been a little bit more stringent in the permitting process, if you will, with the town, you know, so we had a lot more meetings up front to make sure that everything's right now really just based on CDC guidelines," Ronayne said.

 

They also had to make sure that Fanelli Amusements was still having carnivals and could accommodate them. 

 

"We knew that they had carnivals last year, kind of a limited number of carnivals, around New England," Peters said. "You do something for so many years, you kind of have it down like a routine. And so, this was a little different this year." 

 

Fanelli Amusements is also providing sanitation stations to help prevent the spread of the virus along with its rides, games and vendors.

 

The Dalton Fair Association has been in partnership with Fanelli Amusements for 27 years. The ticket and wristband sales go to cover the cost of mounting the event and any extra proceeds toward next year's fair.

 

Atlas has supplied the carnival with fireworks for more than two decades. According to Downer, they are the largest firework supplier around and handle New York City's New Year's fireworks.

 

The Dalton Fair Association is hoping this year's carnival is going to be more like a normal year with a couple thousand visitors on the busy days.