BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Above left, Andres Gabino, 5, of North Brunswick, shows off his new tattoo at the Kids Corner of the Youth Sports Festival by DeVry University on Route 1. The carnival, held June 14-18, benefits the various sports organizations in North Brunswick. Above right, “Pygmy” Tuba the Fire Eater, The Hottest Man in Town, looks to the crowd after finishing his act during the Strangest Show Thursday. NORTH BRUNSWICK – Neither pouring rain nor 90-degree weather could keep residents from miles around from attending the ninth annual Youth Sports Festival in North Brunswick last week.
From June 14-18, festival participants enjoyed rides, games, a petting zoo, elephant rides, a freak show, palm readings and all the food you could eat at the carnival held on the DKM Property by DeVry University.
Edison natives Larry Ehnat, 20, E.J. Zarnock, 20, and John Loughlin, 21, decided to stop in after passing the fair various times on Route 1.
“We had nothing else to do and it looked fun,” Ehnat said of their decision to stop by June 14. “We’ve never been here before … and it looked like a great time.”
And the fair did not disappoint: they especially enjoyed the animals of Commerford’s World Famous Petting Zoo, which included camels, elephants, emus, water buffalo, llamas, macaws, miniature horses, goats, a kangaroo, an eland and a donkey.
“It’s a good family time; there’s something for everybody,” Zarnock said. “Like this [zoo], little kids can have fun but we’re having fun too.”
Bobby Lahey, 14, and his girlfriend Amanda Gelder, 13, both of South Brunswick, also were attracted by the convenient nature of the carnival.
“We don’t really get too many festivals in South Brunswick, so this is pretty good,” Gelder said.
They were excited about the theme-park quality rides, which included Gravitron, FireBall, the Tornado, Wacky Worm and a Mardi Gras funhouse, all provided by Amusements of America. They also enjoyed walking around the fair, playing the State Fair games and eating. Yet they understood the purpose of fundraising for the soccer, travel basketball, softball, baseball and Adams Athletic Club football and cheerleading clubs in town.
Hunter Thomas, 2, of Manville, feeds a goat at Commerford’s World Famous Petting Zoo, part of the North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival. “It is good to keep sports up and keep kids out of trouble,” Lahey said.
No one understands this purpose more than the parents and volunteers involved with the carnival itself. Chris McDonald, a member of the Baseball and Softball Association, came with his daughter, Hayley, 11, and her friend, Devangi Patel, also 11.
“I think it’s important because it gives children activities to keep them out of trouble and give them some pride in accomplishing goals, so they don’t get into mischief,” he said.
The girls, who both play soccer, came for the rides, the food court and the karaoke tent.
“I had no homework, so I wanted to keep [Hayley] company, and I thought it would be cool,” Patel said.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb-sponsored carnival also featured a Kids Corner, DJ Rod and DJ Phil, a karoake tent, a mega 50/50 raffle and various vendors. The Benjamins, The Flying Mueller Brothers, Norwegian Would and Dog Voices performed nightly. A fireworks display was presented on Saturday night.
The festival was coordinated by chairman Darren Snediker, co-chairman Rodney Reinson and a committee of volunteers. The funds raised will be divided amongst the various sports organizations in town.