We're just a few days away from the Orange Volunteer Firemens' Carnival. Festivities kick off Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Orange Fairgrounds, and here at Patch we've asked Carnival Chairman Donald Foyer for a few suggestions for a good weekend.
First, he says, buy your family's bracelets for rides ahead of time. You can buy bracelets online until Wednesday at 6 p.m. After that, sheets of tickets will be on sale at the carnival. For Saturday and Sunday matinees, bracelets will be available at the carnival but only good for those days.
Second, if you haven't got one already, don't forget to pick up a raffle ticket! They're $5, and on sale at , Knight's Power Equipment and . They'll also be on sale at the carnival. Big prizes at the top include week-long vacations in the Mexican Riviera, Disney Caribbean Beach Resort and Bahamas Atlantis Resort Coral Towers. (Prizes will be announced Sunday at 4:30 p.m., and the full list is available on the department's website.) But more importantly, as you know, your raffle ticket goes toward keeping the fire department going.
"We're 100% volunteer, from the Chief all the way down, and anything to do with fire or rescue is purchased through the department, not through taxpayer money," says Foyer. "And all the raffle tickets you buy, all the money goes directly to the department."
Finally, enjoy yourself. Fireworks will be Friday evening at 10:30 p.m. and Saturday evening at 10:45 p.m. Schnitzels & Giggles and World's Best Sundae are returning -- not to mention hamburgers, hot dogs and a host of other carnival fare -- so grab some great food.
"I hope everybody who comes has a good time," says Foyer. "It's a fun event for everybody. We consider it the most wonderful time of the year here at the Fire Department."
For more information, head to the Orange Volunteer Fire Department website.
