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NORTHPORT
Finding Fun At The Firemans Fair
Annual carnival amasses crowds, funds
for charity with rides, carnival games and food
By Mike Koehler/mkoehler@longislandernews.com
Spend some quality fun time with the family,
and raise money for a good cause, too.
Thats the message Northport Second Assistant Chief Chris Hughes
is spreading about the annual Firemans Fair.
Its a pleasant place to be with your family, Hughes
said. We use the funds to support our community; lots of good
causes we contribute to.
The fire department, he added, asks for donations often throughout
the year. They benefit charities, scholarships and other feel
good stuff.
Created in the 1930s along Northport Harbor, the fair will be open
at the Pit between 7 and 11 p.m. next Monday until that Saturday.
Blue Sky Amusements provides a variety of rides and carnival games,
at least some of which are new every year. Riders are expected to
purchase a $9 pay-one-price bracelet, while games are pay-per-play.
Traditional carnival faire, like hot dogs, chicken fingers, zeppole
and soft drinks, are also available for purchase.
We think its a very fair price. There are several fairs
in the area that we dont necessarily compete with. We always
end up with a great turnout, Hughes said.
Living up to its name, 120 Northport firefighters have or are expected
to volunteer for the fair. Firefighters typically man the games,
while Blue Sky staff operates only the rides.
The volunteers also handle all of the food sales and cooking, based
out of a four-building Fire Department-owned facility in the Pit.
Consisting of a kitchen, a storage unit and two fair booths, Hughes
said the Firemans Fair has almost become its sole purpose.
Its called our training and fairgrounds. We use the
facility for training year-round, but the kitchen is really only
used for the Firemans Fair and a car show we have down there,
he said.
Hughes didnt want to set any financial goals, but said he
expected hundreds of people to attend each night.
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