Carnival gives way to pork chop dinner
East Dundee firefighters are trading their amusement ride tickets for pork chop dinner tickets.
Their 3-day festival that has been around for 83 years will be replaced with a one-night dinner party on July 12. There will be no merry-go-round, Scrambler or amusement games, but there will be plenty of pork chops, chicken and other food, said Fire Chief Mark Rakow.
The decision to end the fund-raising carnival was not his, but carnival company owners who didn't see any profit in the event.
"We could get companies to come in late spring or late summer, but not when we traditionally had the carnival in the middle of July," he said. "Last year, we had a company drive in from Kentucky. It drove all this way set up for three days, then take down and drive back.
"It's a shame because the carnival has been around for 83 years. It's always been a nice little festival."
The dinner will be just as nice, but not as long. The food will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in Max Freeman Park, off East Third Street in East Dundee. Tickets for the buffet-style dinner will be $12 each. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Third Street fire station or by calling (847) 426-7521.
"We'd like to know in advance how many people will be attending so we know how much food to order," Rakow said. "This is the first time we've done this and we don't know how many people to expect."
Besides the rides and food, corn bingo has always been popular during the carnival. Instead of blotters to mark numbers that are called, players receive kernels of corn to place on the squares. The dinner will include games of corn bingo. It will also include a raffle. Tickets will be sold for $1. The prize will be $1,000.
The firefighters' association will use the money it raises to maintain the one-acre park members own. The money raised at its carnival, firefighter bought equipment and protective clothing for the fire department.
It also was the last annual fundraiser the East Dundee Firefighters' Association had. Last year, the association's annual turkey raffle just before Thanksgiving was not held because its popularity outgrew the fire station, where it was held.
Association members are looking at different locations for it this year, the chief said.
"We didn't want to see the summer pass without having something," the fire chief said. "A lot of people look forward to the carnival. It gave them a chance to come down to the park with their family and friends and have a good time.
"It probably started before there were any amusement rides, so we're getting back to having a nice evening in the park."
Send your news about East and West Dundee and Gilberts to Gerard Dziuba c/o Daily Herald, 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin, IL 60123, or e-mail to gerarddz@ameritech.net.