Through the eyes of a child

I loved going to carnivals and festivals when I was a young girl.  I still have vivid memories of the Halloween Carnival held at our elementary school each year.  The booths were always filled with excitement.  The Cake Walk with its musical chairs winding down to a single winner of the prized cake, and Spin Art where we squirted colorful paints from plastic bottles onto a spinning white card to create our own masterpiece.  One of my favorites was Go Fish.  I always looked forward to seeing what I had "caught" with my cane pole, string, and clothes pin.  We even had our own haunted house complete with a smorgasbord of cooked spaghetti and meatballs, chilled grapes and jello, which I must admit I was too afraid to touch until I was much older (and wiser).  I also remember the Country Store where we could purchase trinkets of jewelry, games, and other donated items.  What fun it was to browse through the treasure. . .probably my earliest recollection of bargain shopping.  These childhood memories still bring a smile.

In February, each year, came the Orange Parade and Festival.  It could be a little chilly on the morning of the parade, even in Florida, but we had a great time all bundled up sitting in our lawn chairs watching the marching bands with majorettes twirling their batons, and the decorated floats tossing candy to us kids.  I also remember the Shriners, what fun it was to see them in their mini cars circling around in formation. . .and the belly dancer with his belly button adorned with jewels.  Funny the things we remember.  The festival that followed was a highly anticipated week of carnival rides and games provided by the James E. Strates Show. . .the Zipper, Scrambler, Round Up, Fun House, Glasshouse, only to name a few. . and the Himalaya, my favorite.  We would begin our adventure walking through the Orange Dome and visiting the displays set up by the Citrus Growers, and meeting the Citrus Queen sitting on her throne. . .it all seemed magical as a child.  Back in the day, when cotton candy, candy apples, and corn dogs were the original food trucks.  

As I walked through the carnival at Fairview Park last weekend, watching as the little ones tossed their ping pong balls toward fish bowls, and trying to catch rubber duckies with their nets, it brought back great memories.  I did not leave with that candy apple, as I did as a child, but I took with me special moments to remember.   ~msc~