I adore a fair.
The vibes attained by visiting a fair on a summer night with all your friends, wind blowing in your hair, a sugar high kicking in, and loud flashing lights coming from every direction are incomparable. It’s like a summer in a bottle, a bottle that was shaken a million times until it finally bursts open and now overflows. For any movie lovers, it’s as if The Kissing Booth and The Notebook came together to create an unforgettable night (P.S., scratch out all the heartbreaking stuff).
The Corpus Christi Parish Carnival, held in Chatham Township and hosted by the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, is one of the most anticipated events for both middle and high schoolers. People travel in herds to ride the attractions, purchase what’s described as the best lemonade by some ( and by others, the worst… it depends on who you ask, but I love it in small quantities), listen to music, and unwind from life for a short while. It’s a bittersweet gift that comes once a year.
When speaking to one of the volunteers at the fair, sophomore Viv Shue told me that the carnival is one of the church’s more popular fundraisers. It takes place every May and typically lasts three days: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
So… why am I raving about carnivals like they are the BEST thing since sliced bread, and is the Corpus Christi Carnival truly worth it?
In my opinion, yes.
When I visited the carnival, I spent the entire night hopping from one ride to another, with only the long lines coming in my way. While there weren’t endless food options, they had delicious baked goods under the tents, a Kings of the Wings food truck, a kiosk for classic concessions, and a majorly popular stand for lemonade and deep-fried Oreos. Still, simply soaking in the atmosphere and listening to the live music play Here Comes The Sun was the highlight of my day. Between rides, I also interviewed numerous people, some of whom had been coming here before they reached the height limit, and some who had a fresher outlook on the occasion.
For those who consider the carnival a fundamental part of their childhood, it brings back nostalgic memories. The strong consensus among them was that every time they visit, the carnival sparkles, not just because it’s fun to hang out with friends now, but because of a recollection of sentimental adventures that backs it. An anonymous attendee says, “I feel like when you’re younger, it’s more magical because there are more things, and you ask your parents for stuff and they do it, but also it’s cooler in a different, more independent way now that I get to experience things with my friends.”
The way you partake in this event may change as you go through the stages of your life, but for many, it’s a comforting constant they can lean on, and that alone makes it worthwhile to visit year after year.
Although many carnival goers haven’t lived in Chatham their whole lives, and for them, there is no nostalgic incentive to continue going, yet they continue to return. Why?
Perhaps it’s F.O.M.O mixed with a little bit of herd mentality, but many agreed that it’s a chance to let go after a series of strenuous exams and schoolwork. In a time where everyone is busy and overwhelmed, the fair has somehow become one of the few places where people can enjoy being together and creating new experiences to look back upon. One interviewee says, “It ends up being fun for all ages, just in a different way, I guess.”
With or without the nostalgia factor, everyone I talked to raved about the Round-Up and Paratrooper. The carnival offers something rare: a chance to forget about responsibilities for a few hours and just have fun with your friends, or meet new people from other schools. Whether you go for the rides, play games at their booths, or simply to be surrounded by your friends, the Corpus Christi Carnival continues to draw people back year after year. And honestly? I think that says enough on its own.
