St. Catherine of Siena Church Carnival of Fun 2018

There’s something about the colors of carnival lights that helps open the floodgates to summer fun and memories. Add in the mechanical whir of amusement rides. Festival foods galore – from burgers and hot dogs, through chili and cheesesteaks, towards ice cream and sno-cones, all the way to the coveted pizza fritta. The pulse and rhythm of live music. The close calls and triumphs in the animated voices of those playing games of chance…

All of this and more is what helps make the St. Catherine of Siena Church ‘Carnival of Fun’ a bonafide summer tradition in Riverside – one that brings in crowds smiling faces (from all over town – and even beyond) who happen to be seeking a perfect summer night with great friends, comfort food, carnival games, adrenaline-inducing rides, PLUS an amazing raffle with HUGE prizes!

This year the Carnival of Fun started on Tuesday, July 10 and ran through Saturday, July 14.

The carnival is a significant fundraiser for the church and tends to draw families and fun-seekers from all over Fairfield County and Westchester – with organizers estimating crowd sizes approaching 2,000+ each night. The volunteers alone – a passionate group of individuals donating time to the church and for the love of this annual town legacy – number over 300 in total. The proceeds raised benefit the church – from day-to-day operational costs, through to bigger maintenance and improvement projects on the church property.

Our friend Julie DiBiase, of J Dibiase Photography, was on hand at the event. Here are a few of the images she captured…

ONE MORE THING: A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s carnival raffle winners! Here is a list of the those who took home the major prizes: 1st Prize: $30,000 AMEX Gift Cards – Alfredo Berisso (Riverside), 2nd Prize: $5,000 AMEX Gift Cards – Miron Bajus (Stamford), 3rd Prize: $3,000 AMEX Gift Cards – M. Carlucci (Stamford), 4th Prize: $500 Aux Delices Gift Card – Maria Cabanero (Greenwich), 5th Prize: Mohegan Sun Getaway – Joan Carhart (Old Greenwich), 6th Prize: Mountain Bike – Emma Doring (Old Greenwich).