Good times at the Family Fun Carnival in Damariscotta

Tue, 07/28/2015 - 12:15pm

Story Location:
6 Hodgdon St
Damariscotta, ME 04543
United States

Despite a few rain showers, dozens of people showed up to enjoy the second annual Family Fun Carnival at Hodgdon Green in Damariscotta.

The festivities included games, food and vendor booths, and an enormous bounce house and slide for kids to play on, (though many adults couldn't resist getting in on the fun).

The entire carnival was put together by Hodgdon Green Activities Coordinator and CRMA Amylynn Balsdon of Boothbay, with help on the day of from many volunteers.

“Set up started around 7:30 a.m.,” Balsdon said. “I'd been working on the games for the last month or so, and am really happy with how they turned out.”

The games Balsdon was referring to were crafted by her out of cardboard and a lot of ingenuity. They included a bean bag toss, key guessing game, and “fat cats” to name just a few. In “fat cats,” pictures are taped to small bottles of water which the player attempts to knock over with a ball.

Players could play as many games as they wanted for free with admittance, and earned tickets which they could exchange for prizes.

Volunteers included Gayle Webber, Andrea Handel, Dan and Claire Mocarsky, Elijah Curtis, Kerry Genthner, Amy Harrington, Laurie and Dennis Robbins, Janet Smeltzer, Trish Sproul, Linda Brewer, Barbara Waldo, Chester Brewer, Angela Eastman, Chelsea Copeland, Donna Gregory and Kristie Gregory. A local singer and guitarist, Kathy Nordone, donated an hour of her time to play for the carnival.

Business sponsors for the carnival included Midcoast Energy, Damariscotta Bank and Trust, Bath Savings, The First National bank, Strong-Hancock Funeral Home and First Federal Savings.

“I'm lucky I have any hair left after this month,” Balsdon said. “I was pulling it out trying to make everything work, but it all came together in the end thanks to hard work, lots of help and a bit of luck.”