Firemen’s Carnival back in town

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The Ali Baba ride is in full swing during last year’s Beacon Hose Company No. 1's Annual Firemen's Carnival in Beacon Falls. –FILE PHOTO
The Ali Baba ride is in full swing during last year’s Firemen’s Carnival in Beacon Falls. The carnival kicks off Thursday and continues Friday and Saturday at the firehouse on North Main Street. –FILE PHOTO
BEACON FALLS — The time has come once again for Beacon Hose Company No. 1’s annual Fireman’s Carnival.

The carnival opened Thursday night at the firehouse on North Main Street. Due to rain, the carnival was canceled for Friday but will be open Saturday from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The carnival features live music, food, rides, games and a beer garden.

“Our food menu is everything from burgers and fries to fried Oreos, fried dough, sausage and peppers, loaded baked potatoes and pulled pork,” Beacon Hose Company No. 1 spokesman Jeremy Rodorigo said. “It’s one of the reasons people come back year after year.”

Rodorigo said another very popular part of the event is the beer garden, which serves a couple different types of beer.

On Saturday, the annual Firemen’s Parade will kickoff at 6 p.m. on North Main Street.

Rodorigo said the parade draws firefighters from approximately 35 firehouses all over the state.

“Some are as close as neighboring towns and some come from further away, places like Clinton,” Rodorigo said.

Rodorigo said for some of the firehouses around the state marching in the parade has become a tradition.

The carnival, which has been taking place in Beacon Falls for about 40 years, has also become a tradition for many current and former residents.

“It’s a fun three nights. People who grew up in Beacon Falls, even if they have moved out of town, they come back for it,” Rodorigo said. “You see so many people we haven’t seen all year. It’s like a reunion.”

The carnival is also an important event to Beacon Hose.

“It’s our largest fundraiser of the year. We do it to generate funds for our operating expenses,” Rodorigo said.

Although the primary reason for the carnival is to raise money, Rodorigo said it is not the only reason the department hosts it year after year.

“The secondary reason is that the town has grown to love it,” Rodorigo said. “Honestly we love doing it. It’s a ton of work but we love doing it.”

Rodrigo said the preparations for this year’s carnival are coming along very well. He said part of the fun of the carnival is seeing the fire department transform from a public safety agency to a center of hometown fun.

“We’ve been doing this for so many years we go into auto pilot,” Rodorigo said.