THE BALLOON MAN

Coleman's carnival coming to Middletown this week for 96th year


 

Catherine Avalone | The Middletown Press 
3.21.12  Ray Rio eyes the next bolt as he attaches the bracket for the Thunderbolt marquee at of the Coleman Bros. Carnival Wednesday afternoon. The 96th season starts Tuesday, March 27 at 6 pm and runs through Sunday, April 1 at Palmer Field in Middletown
FROM:  MIDDLETOWNPRESS.COM
By Press Staff
Published: Monday, March 26, 2012
MIDDLETOWN – Featuring a new LED light show and bungee jumps, the Coleman Brothers Carnival is opening this week for its 96th annual event.


With more than 30 rides and attractions for all ages, the carnival has set up camp at Palmer Field on Bernie O’Rourke Drive.


While the Coleman family members now live in Florida, the company was based in Middletown for decades and still stores its rides and equipment on Newfield Street in the winter. Coleman Brothers puts on about 25 different carnivals throughout the Northeast. Middletown is always the first of the season, because it’s family’s hometown. It then moves on to Shelton from April 4 to 15.


The carnival has earned the nickname “The Rainmaker” over the years, because it seems to rain whenever the show arrives in town. Tuesday is expected to be mostly sunny. Wednesday and Thursday may see some rain, according to Weather.com. The weekend is expected to be sunny with temperatures in the 50s and 60s.


Along with a Ferris wheel that can be seen from several blocks away and an Acceleration Station train ride, Coleman Brothers provides a slide, swings, the Sizzler, a Tilt-A-Whirl and a Mardi Gras-themed funhouse. For younger kids, the carnival offers a Kiddie World section consisting of The Merry Go Round, a Super Slide and fun favorites like The Wiggle Wurm and Winky The Whale. And of course, there’s plenty of food, including fried dough, pizza and cotton candy.


This year’s carnival will open Tuesday at 6 p.m. and will stay in town until April 1. On Saturday and Sunday, the carnival opens at 1 p.m.


Wristbands will be sold Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and are good until closing. Saturday and Sunday family wristbands will be sold from 1 to 4 p.m. and are good until closing