Winter Carnival to bring family-friendly fun to the fairgrounds in February
Winter may not be prime carnival season, but those who miss bounce houses, fried food, cotton candy, games of chance or skill and other entertainment will get a taste of them at the Winter Carnival put on by KidsLinked at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Guests can choose from two sessions of the carnival, one running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one from 3 to 6 p.m.
At the fairgrounds, the carnival will be set up in and between two buildings, one housing the stage and the other carnival games and a small merry-go-round. Bounce houses will be set up in both buildings.
“You can go back and forth between the two buildings, and just kind of hang out until the session is done,” said Julianne Moore, director of marketing and events for KidsLinked Family Media Group.
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“Last year, we had planned on putting a bounce house outside, and it was 11 degrees out. It was horrible! So, no bounce houses outside this year,” Moore said.
Instead, the outside space will be used for food trucks with carnival-themed menu items. Outdoor heaters will be set up to keep eaters toasty.
Besides games and bounce houses, the carnival will also feature nonstop entertainment onstage.
At both sessions, magician Andrew Martin and juggling act Major Scales will perform, and guests will be invited to participate in a family version of “The Price Is Right,” where they will guess the prices of toys, and maybe win some.
The first session will feature appearances by princesses and superheroes, and the second session, dinosaurs and cartoon characters.
“They'll do a little performance on stage, and then they'll sign autographs and take pictures and do meet and greets,” Moore said.
Family bingo will also be offered during the second session.
Approximately 50 kid-friendly vendors will be at the carnival.
Many of them will offer treats, including cotton candy, cookies and popcorn, as long as supplies last.
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“Many of the vendors have activities or treats at their booths,” Moore said “Sometimes it's coloring pages, sometimes it's a wheel to spin and get prizes, or a little giveaway. We encourage them all to do interactive activities at their booths.”
Prices for the carnival start at $5 per person at the door. The website (kidslinked.com) offers several family packages and special deals, which include admission to the bounce houses and other extras. Tickets for carnival games are $3 at the fairgrounds or three for $6 online.
At a glance
Winter Carnival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4100 Columbia St., Hilliard. Admission starts at $5 per person. (kidslinked.com)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Winter Carnival to be held at Franklin County Fairgrounds on Feb. 4
