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Jamesport FD parade tonight, carnival continues

STEVE ROSSIN PHOTO | The Jamesport Fire Department Parade is tonight at 7 p.m. The carnival continues throughout the week.
STEVE ROSSIN PHOTO | The Jamesport Fire Department Parade is tonight at 7 p.m. The carnival continues throughout the week.

The Jamesport Fire Department has put the finishing touches on setting up for what has become a staple for the Town of Riverhead — its annual summer carnival.

The weeklong event kicked off Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. by the corner of Main Street and South Jamesport Boulevard at the George Young Community Center. This year’s event marks the events 58th anniversary of the event.

Jamesport Fire Chief Duffy Griffiths said people have been anxiously awaiting the start of this year’s festivities.

“We start getting questions about when the parade and fireworks are coming as early as May, people line up their vacations around it,” Mr. Griffiths said.

There are over a dozen rides to choose from like the Himalaya, a large tilt-a-whirl that is expected to be one of the more popular attractions among carnival goers this week. In addition to the rides, there will be opportunities to play carnival classics like the balloon and darts game as well as trying to sink someone in a dunk tank.

Other activities expected to take place this week include the customary parade which begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. Residents can also gaze at fireworks in the starry sky, which will close out the festivities Saturday night at 10 p.m.

Mr. Griffiths said the event has been a rewarding experience since he first joined the fire department.

“I’ve been doing it for 13 years and it’s great, people are happy when they come and you get to see the same faces and new faces every year,” he said.

One of the things Mr. Griffiths says he loves most about the carnival is being able to share the experience with his kids.

“The kids love it, it’s great because they’re 10 and 7 years old and as they get older and go on different rides they get a little more freedom,” he said.

The carnival will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight each day. Admission is free,but the Fire Department is accepting donations to help pay for the fireworks show that will take place Saturday night.