Miles Township Volunteer Fire Company carnival starts tonight with parade and entertainment in Rebersburg

REBERSBURG -- You won’t see fast moving carnival rides, or live exotic animals, or even a dunk tank, at the Miles Township Fire Company’s annual carnival this weekend in Rebersburg.

What you will find is a community who gathers not only to support a small town volunteer fire company, but also to do something equally as important. They come to the carnival to visit with one another -- in person.

Rural carnivals like the one in Rebersburg are keystones of life for many, and attending them year after year isn’t really about the hot sausages and funnel cakes.

It is simply for nostalgia -- the act of going back to a place that conjures up good memories and the best of times, through sight, smell, hearing and taste, and the Miles Township Carnival checks each one of those boxes.

The grounds themselves are oval shaped with food stands, raffle booths, a stage and games along the edges, creating a makeshift border for the event.

In the center, a large wooden pavilion sits decorated with classic festival-style white globe lights strung catty cornered across the eaves of the building, giving the whole scene Norman Rockwell vibes.

Each night a different band graces the stage playing some kind of old-time country music, and the smell of hand cut french fries wafts through the air.

The ice cream stand promises big scoops of sugar laden creamy perfection, in flavors like grape nut, coffee and teaberry, putting the final finishing touch on that perfect ride back memory lane.

Miles Township Fire Company Carnival Director, John Fisher, says he is always amazed to see so many people attending the festival and the fellowship that takes place there. “I love seeing the people visiting. Some don’t see each other for a year at a time until they come back to our carnival, and that’s when they catch up.”

This year’s Miles Township Fire Company’s carnival runs tonight through Saturday, July 15, and as tradition stands, will have live entertainment, great food including a chicken bar-b-que, tractor pulls, and a cake auction.

The festival opens daily at 5 p.m., but begins officially this evening at 7 p.m. when the fire whistle blows and the parade comes through town.

Kiddie tractor pulls are Friday evening at 7 p.m. with registration at 6:30. The garden tractor pulls are Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with registration at 9 a.m. the public is welcome to attend, and food stands will be open all day.

The chicken bar-b-que will take place all three days and will be ready by 5p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The carnival entertainment lineup features the Brush Mountain Band on Thursday, the Hitchcock Railway on Friday and Joe Quick on Saturday.

Old fashioned games like the duck pond, ring toss, and everyone’s favorite, a dime pitch, are at family affordable prices in the hopes that everyone can have a fun, innocent time.

There will be a cake auction at 8 p.m. on Saturday showcasing the talents of the Valley’s best bakers who donate cakes in patriotic and EMS themes. Prizes will be awarded to the cakes which take in the most money.

Nightly drawings for ground prizes will be held at the close of each day, with the drawing for the big raffle ticket on Saturday evening between 10 and 11 p.m. The big raffle ticket lists over 80 items, including a grand prize of $500 cash.

Proceeds from the carnival go into the fire company’s truck fund and are used to purchase new equipment, but Fisher focuses on a significant part of the event that most might not think of.

“The support we get from the community during the carnival is phenomenal. A lot of these people we only see on their worst of days, when we are on calls,” said Fisher. “But them coming to the carnival gives us a chance to see them on a happy day, and lets us give them a good time -- that’s important to give them a good memory.”

For more information on the Miles Township Fire Company, please visit their Facebook page, or can the non-emergency number at 814-349-8149.