A few years back I posted an article When the Carnival Comes to Town. The carnival has returned yearly since then but last night I decided to go back camera in hand and take more photographs.
This year the carnival is in a bigger place and can spread out with all its glory. The colors and motion of the Ferris Wheel are fascinating. On my previous visit I was taken by the secretiveness of the carnival and how it seemed to be tucked away in a little corner. I photographed in black and white. Now the carnival seems more open and expressive and needed to be photographed in color.
The carnival is now located in a large open space near a Walmart in Landover Hills, Maryland with huge parking space versus in a smaller more isolated place years back . From the outside it seems to be drawing a lot of people but I haven’t been tempted to go inside as the view from the outside with the lights and Ferris Wheel is enough.
I remember when the carnival came to the little town in North Carolina where I grew up. One week there was a carnival in the open field and then a few weeks later there was a gospel tent meeting in the same space. It was quite a contrast considering some of the “entertainment” that was included in the carnival shows back then.
Carnivals have been a life time fascination. I know they are open during the day sometimes but the magic of the carnival is at night. Maybe it’s darkness and lightness both trying to be in the same place. The colors shout out into the night making a wonderful mysterious view.
Does a carnival come to your town or have you been to one in recent years? Any carnival stories?
Related articles
- Carnival (whiteorchidhouse.wordpress.com)
Fabulous colours! We get fairgrounds that visit our local park – usually they are muddy, rough and lots of gangs hang around. I prefer visiting the fairs at the seaside, they are much more colourful!
Thanks, I have never been to the fairs at the seaside. Must be wonderful.