Saturday, February 27, 2010

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Last call for the annual Carnival By Shavaughn Moss ~ Lifestyles Editor ~ shavaughn@nasguard.com: The annual Carnival has delighted thousands of people over the weeks that it has been open at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, but if you have yet to make your way down, then you need to do so quickly, because after this weekend it will be gone — at least for another 11 months until their return in December. The Carnival will remain open to residents of New Providence through Sunday, January 31. So this is your absolute last weekend to indulge in all things that make up this annual fair. It's a place filled with rides that give thrills to the youngest of toddlers and the young at heart. It's a place where delicious food is everywhere, and the games of chance are at every turn. Regular Carnival goers were thrilled with the new rides that were brought into the country this year, according to Doug Jones, one of the site managers. "We have the Extreme, which is a giant swing, which people love, then the Round-Up, which hasn't been here for like four years, which takes you up in a circle and brings you down is another thrill-seeker's ride that people just love," he said. Old favorites like the Tilt-A-Whirl, is again in action. It's a ride Jones says is a well-loved classic. "My aunt used to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl and still rides it when I see her in the States. We have the merry-go-round, which the kids love, and the Wiggle Worm which is new for kids, but which parents can ride with them also. So, if you have a child who can't ride the Dragon Wagon, they can go over to the Wiggle Worm, and the parents can ride with them so that the children can get them used to riding the rides," he said. The games of chance are not to be forgotten. Jones says as usual most people will have loads of fun playing them. And the eats are not to be forgotten. The Carnival staple funnel cake hadn't been in The Bahamas in five years. Because of the new additions to the theme park Jones says they've had to occupy even more space, as they're bigger, better and more fabulous. Sharon Whylly, 42, who hadn't been to the Carnival in a few years did not miss out on the fun this time around. Actually her niece Christal Whylly, 16, and her nephew William Hilton Jr., wouldn't let her as she promised to take them to the affair this year as a holiday treat. "It's costly, but since I'm treating them money is no object," said Whylly, who took them mostly to enjoy themselves on the rides. But she was happy to indulge Christal in a game or two. Whylly's favorite ride which she didn't opt out on was of course the bumper cars. She hopped on to that ride as soon as she got there. "I love bumping . . . that's the whole fun of it, to bump the other person, and when you see them coming to get away from them." The one ride she didn't bother hopping on was the Pirate Ship. "I'll never go on the Pirate Ship again, my head was swinging for days," she said with a laugh off the first and last time she was brave enough to do more than just bump cars. Shanell Sands, 31, a once avid Carnival-goer, this year said she didn't have any interest in attending. She feels she's outgrown it. But she has planned to take her five-year-old niece Shawn before it leaves. "We pass there everyday so that I can pick up her grandmother from work, and she always notes that we're passing the Carnival, so I made up my mind to take her." Sands says she had resigned herself to going sometime before the end of the week, but was happy to learn that the Carnival is here through Sunday, January 31. "Now that I've found out that it will be here until the end of the month I will take her before it's gone," she says. The Carnival is open weekdays from 5 p.m. until and 2 p.m. until on weekends. Friday January 29, 2010