By Caroline Jenkins, Opinions Editor
Neon flashing lights illuminate your face with bright color, the aroma of funnel cakes and cotton candy waft through the air with a light sweetness, the raucous sound of laughter from children and adults alike permeates the air. The carnival is back in town on the Outer Banks, and people from far and wide congregate to kick-start the joyous warmth of summer.
The Soundside FunFair will be returning to its spot in Nags Head for the fourth time from June 13-16, drawing crowds made up of tourists and locals from all across the Outer Banks. Located at the Soundside Event Site, the fair or “carnival” promises the same amount of fun and thrill as the past three years.
“Last year I went to the fair with all my friends and it was a lot of fun to go on the swings and see the whole Outer Banks from an aerial view,” senior Izzy Warner said.
This event is meant to raise money for the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County (CYP), which is a private organization that connects kids and their families with resources to “help them thrive.”
The fair will begin and end at its normal times — 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. — and will continue throughout three days. There will be a wide variety of 12 different rides this year, including the beloved Ferris wheel that was missing from last year’s fair. The typical carnival food will also be making a return with options such as cotton candy, funnel cakes and chicken-on-a-stick among others.
“The fair was really fun last year. I went with some friends and my favorite ride was probably The Fireball,” freshman Ross Sullivan said.
There will be on and off-site designated parking areas, as well as shuttles to the event site from Nags Head Elementary School that are free for carnival-goers. Single tickets cost $1 each and there are all-you-can-ride wristbands that cost $25 each and grant you unlimited access to rides on the night the wristband was purchased. Rides typically require 2-6 tickets each.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8bxj4KCZVQ[/embedyt]
Senior Caroline Jenkins may be reached at [email protected].
