Greensboro carnival draws crowd for 51st year

GREENSBORO — The carnival, which is the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Company’s biggest fundraiser of the year, wasn’t slowed down by last week’s steamy weather.

The event was going full tilt with food, rides and games from July 9 to 13.

“In five days we will probably get around 3,000 people,” said Paul Starkey, a longtime member of the fire company. “The most popular food items are oysters and soft shells. I got to put scrapple in there too.”

Sugar powder dust came off of the funnel cakes while the condiment bar was buzzing with people adorning their french fries.

All the rides were well attended. Kids rode on a fire truck, and teens enjoyed larger rides like “the Zipper.”

This carnival has been going on for over 50 years.

“At one time, the fire company used to own their own rides when it was down in town,” said Rich Covert, the fire company’s president. “Fifty-one years ago, they made all of their own hamburgers and did their own rides.”

The fundraiser has brought in thousands of dollars to help support the fire company in it’s 51-year history. The fire company has had such success with the carnival that it has added a few more annual events to its calendar — including a rodeo, which will take place July 22 and 23, and a tractor pull, which was held in May.