What's summer without the hot whirring colors of a carnival?
"I've been to thousands of them," said 13-year-old Gardnerville resident Kayla Baker. "OK, maybe not thousands."
The Pau-Wa-Lu eighth-grader was one of dozens of excited fair-goers at the Elks Summerfest Carnival at Lampe Park on Thursday, the second night of the event.
"The summer's been good. I've been swimming and hanging out with friends, but there's still that boredom," Kayla said.
The carnival, with its multiform amusements, is not a bad solution for the boredom blues. For Kayla, the games and prizes are the best part. In fact, she was hoping to find the ball-toss game where live goldfish were supposedly given away as prizes.
"The rides are too expensive," she said. "I don't have enough money to buy tickets."
Kayla was not at the park by herself, but with friends Britiany Gaskins and Julia Acks, both 18, and Acks' 3-month-old daughter Hailey.
"It's all about hanging out with your friends," Gaskins said.
The 18-year-old, who lives in Minden, pointed to the south end of the park where the Zipper ride loomed against the horizon, a giant vertical oval with cage cars dangling from its outer edge.
"It's fun," Gaskins said. "The cage rolls over, and it scares the crap out of you. We once did it 12 times in a row."
Kayla said she's no fan of the ride.
"I've been on it before," she said. "I don't like it."
Acks was just happy to spend time with her newborn daughter.
"I brought her to the carnival during Carson Valley Days, and she slept the whole time," Acks said. "At least she's awake for this one."
The group of friends slowly made their way into the maze of makeshift arcades, tents packed with stuffed animals, toys and trinkets. They found familiar rides, like the hammer-shaped Kamikaze, the centrifugal Tornado, and, of course, bumper cars.
On the north end of the park, members of the Minden-Douglas Elks Lodge, which organizes the fundraising event each summer, were grilling burgers, hot dogs and other mouth-watering fare. A thick, savory smoke hung in the air.
"I've been selling tickets at the farmers markets, and it's been going pretty good," said George Johnson, club trustee and youth activities chairman. "But with the economy the way it is, we're just keeping our fingers crossed that people show up."
Gardnerville grandfather Charles Brunkhorst wasn't going to let the economy ruin his fun. He brought three of his grandchildren to the carnival.
"I just like the family atmosphere," he said. "I watch my grandkids more than anything. I'm already having fun and enjoying it."
CVMS seventh-graders Josh Curtis and Tristin Reid were also having fun. The 12-year-olds were waiting in front of the ticket booth with some other friends.
"The Zipper's the best ride," Tristin said.
Josh agreed.
"It's because of all the flips," he said, "but The Kamikaze is fun, too."
The Elks Summerfest Carnival ends today. The fair opens at noon and closes at 9 p.m. All-day wrist bands are available.
