Carnival, n. A period of merrymaking and feasting; any merrymaking, revelry or festival; a traveling amusement show including rides, games and food.
Red Mountain Football Association (RMFA) is promising a little merrymaking this month at its first ever Mountain Lion Carnival. Scheduled for Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27, the carnival will include rides, games, food and entertainment.
“There will be a good mix of rides, so there will be something for every age group,” said Ron Wisniewski, Red Mountain High School head football coach. “There will be plenty of little kids’ rides, but also thrill rides for teenagers and young adults.”
Midway West, a local amusement company, will set up the rides near the football field on the Red Mountain High School campus, which is located at 7301 E. Brown Road. The fun will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Red Mountain’s ideal location was what sparked the idea for a carnival as a school fund-raising event. “My dad has been involved with promoting carnivals for a few decades now, and he thought we had an excellent location for a carnival,” Ron said.
Because of educational budget cuts, RMFA needs to raise a significant amount of money to keep the football program going. According to Ron, the group hopes the carnival not only will be well received by the community, but also will build school spirit.
Local musicians representing a variety of genres will perform throughout the four-day event. “You can relax to some classic rock and blues, or jam out to some alternative punk or metal,” said entertainment committee member Rachel Gilchrist. Headliners include Tigress, No Big Deal, That One Band and The Morning After.
“Some of the performers have all kinds of experience, and some are just getting started,” Rachel said. “Who knows? Some day you might be able to say you saw so and so at the Red Mountain Carnival when they were first starting out.”
Students from the Red Mountain Dance Production will perform during the weekend, as well. Check out the Web site at www.redmountainfootball.com for a complete entertainment schedule.
A carnival wouldn’t be complete without kettle corn, shaved ice, hot dogs and BBQ. Red Mountain’s carnival will offer the expected and then some. Bellagio Restaurant, Chik-Fil-A, Moani’s Country Kitchen and Tropical Smoothie also will provide food for purchase.
Presale ticket vouchers for rides are $20 for an all-day wristband or 40 tickets. Vouchers will be available as follows: noon to 1 p.m. March 10, 11, 21, 22 and 23, Red Mountain High School cafeteria (student lunch hour); 6 to 8 p.m. March 12, and 5 to 7 p.m. March 23, Barro’s Pizza, 1066 N. Power Road. Tickets also are available online at www.redmountainfootball.com. Bring vouchers to the carnival ticket booth to exchange for a wristband or book of tickets.
Carnival hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 24; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 27.