Carnival brings community together
Published 8:17 pm Friday, August 12, 2022
This banner hangs in front of the Walters Ruritan Community House, welcoming people to the Old Fashioned Community Carnival on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Kaior Benjamin holds still as Isabella Merritt applies ornate facepaint during the Old Fashioned Community Carnival in Walters on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Allison Cain pets K-9 Cody at the Old Fashioned Community Carnival in Walters on Saturday, Aug. 6. Looking on at right is James Overton, director of marketing and business development for the Carrsville-based American K-9 Interdiction.
Three-year-old Anthony Spivey wears some law enforcement gear as he poses in this photo with, from left, Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Brett Crawford, Lt. Ryan Acey, Sgt. Alex F. Johnson and Johnson’s personal dog, Jada.
Greeting people as they enter the carnival in Walters on Saturday, Aug. 6, are Dot McDonald, left, and Shawn Carr.
Holding for a photo at the entrance to the carnival are Dominique King, left, and Laila King.
From left, Maddox Varva, Angela Varva and Izzy Varva enjoy some refreshments at the carnival.
Gathering for a picture in front of the Walters Ruritan Community House are, from left, Ayden Porter, Arthur Porter and Avery Porter.
From left, Connor Smith, Bridgette Smith and Gavin Smith come together for a photo during the carnival in Walters on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Ayden Porter explores one of the bounce houses provided at the carnival Saturday, Aug. 6.
Dezhane Woodson, left, pauses for a photo as Deputy Brett Crawford shows him some of the controls and features of an Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office vehicle while he sits in the driver’s seat.
Matthew Yoder, left, and Ethan Yoder play a classic carnival game, aiming to hit large coffee cans with the bean bags they are throwing.
Posing for a photo as they navigate the carnival are, from left, Wendy Freeman, Skylar Freeman and Reed Freeman.
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Residents from Carrsville and beyond became better acquainted with their neighbors Saturday, Aug. 6, as they attended the inaugural Old Fashioned Community Carnival at the Walters Ruritan Community House.
Much of the action was outside the house, as children explored bounce houses, participated in classic carnival games, had their faces painted, got a bite of free food to eat and were able to meet K-9 Cody and area law enforcement officers.
Vendors were on hand inside the community house.
The carnival was organized by the Walters Ladies Community Club.
“I thought it went very well,” Club President Shawn Carr said. “I think we had about 200 people come through.”
The event ran from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Carr said the traffic of attendees was steady throughout.
“A lot of them were from Carrsville, a few from Windsor and a couple from Franklin,” she said. “I think we had a really good group of people.”
She said attendees also gave organizers some suggestions on things for next year’s iteration of the event.
Asked what features of the carnival seemed to her to be the most popular, Carr said, “The game of Hit the Cans, with the bean bags and the big coffee cans, and the bounce houses and probably the potato sack race and the egg race.”
Giving children the opportunity to explore the inside of emergency vehicles and even wear some gear was the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office, which was joined by the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department, with one of its firetrucks, and the Virginia State Police.
American K-9 Interdiction, which is based out of Carrsville, was founded in 2001 with the focus to produce expertly trained canines to protect and save lives, as noted at AK9I.edu. Helping represent AK9I at the carnival was K-9 Cody.
“That dog was great,” Carr said.
The Walters Ruritan Club lent a hand at the event, coordinating the parking area located just down the road from the community house.
