June is here and for a kid that means lots of fun summer activities including the annual Kiddie Carnival hosted by the Athens Lions Club. This year’s opening night is Thursday June 25th with all the rides still just $.50 each.

The Kiddie Carnival is a part of Athens and Limestone County that many treasure due to their fond memories of riding the attractions last year, or years ago. Naturally kids enjoy all the rides like the Ferris Wheel, Swings, Cars, and Carousel. One of the favorites of the small kids is the train; kids enjoy raising their arms and screaming while it travels through the train shed on its tracks, with whistle blowing. Whether they call them airplanes or rocket ships, children enjoy riding them and waving to their friends as they zoom through the air. The night would not be complete without a trip down to the Roller Coaster. For the kids that are just a little bit bigger there’s the big swings, scrambler and parachute rides. While the price for all these rides remains very reasonable, the Lions Club members don’t even charge for all the great memories created, the excellent photography opportunities of sons and daughters enjoying themselves, or the chance to renew friendships while the kids ride. If you’re looking for something to do while the kids ride, the Bingo tables are awaiting you with great prizes for all ages.

A visit to the Kiddie Carnival would not be complete without some of those delicious concessions cooked by Athens Lions Club President Roger Andrews and all the other trusty cooks. Concessions include hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, and chicken sandwiches. If you don’t want a meal consider something from the snack selections: soft drinks, fries, funnel cake, popcorn, snow cone or Dippin Dots. The Kiddie Carnival wouldn’t quite be complete without some cotton candy at some point during the night. The concessions are reasonably priced and the Kiddie Carnival remains a great place to enjoy clean family fun close to home.

The Athens Lions Club appreciates the great support of our neighbors from Athens and all over Limestone County, as well as surrounding communities. Due to this support and patronage of the Kiddie Carnival the Athens Lions Club has been able to support Lions Club International main cause of Sight. Funds raised through the Kiddie Carnival are used for activities such as vision screening test and eyeglasses for some of the less fortunate. Also the club has been a long time supporter of Camp Seale Harris in Alabama, a camp for children with diabetes. The club supports and participates in other community events such as the recent Relay for Life, the Chamber’s Home and Garden Show and the Storytelling Festival along with other events. Athens Lions Club members give of their time and talents not only on the club grounds but making appearances with the Lion Club train in the Athens Christmas Parade, other parades and at some school events.

Athens Lions Club is blessed to have members with diverse backgrounds and interest that work well together to make the Kiddie Carnival a huge success. As with any volunteer organization, countless hours are put in by it’s members before and during the carnival to make it work. This spring several of the member’s with some help from others have reworked several of the rides so that they will be able to service countless additional hours of riders. The dedication and positive attitude of the membership of the Athens Lions Club is one of the keys to the continued success of the Kiddie Carnival. Volunteers that help make this possible include spouses of club members, other civic club members and friends of Lion’s. Without these additional volunteers the carnival would not be possible.

The Kiddie Carnival will open with a brief opening ceremony at 6pm June 25th, with rides opening at 6:30pm at the carnival grounds located at Forrest & Beaty streets, across from Athens Middle School. The Kiddie Carnival will then be open every Thursday, Friday & Saturday night from 6:30pm-9:30pm through August 1st, with the exception of being closed July 4th. It will be open August 7-15 on Friday & Saturday nights. For more information visit the Athens Lions Club website at: http://www.athensal.lionwap.org/ . Come enjoy the sights, sounds and taste of summer as provided by the Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival.