1/29/2011 Carnival Day at Quail Run

It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Arizona City. The air is warm and there is excitement in the air. It’s Carnival Day in Quail Run!

Judy, one of the workampers here in the park brought this idea of a carnival for an Activities fundraiser to the table and she organized the whole thing and ran with it. She did a wonderful job! As did all the workampers and winter resident volunteers who stepped up to the plate.

Local businesses have set up shop in the Carnaval Room. Food vendors are outside, lots of gift baskets are ready for a silent auction and volunteers are lined up to lead the games.

It started at ten and I managed to get up there to see what was going on a little after eleven. It seemed like the whole park was out for this. Every game had people playing and a waiting line, all the vendors had winter residents checking out the wares and services and five minute chair massages were being given. The place was just teeming with activity.

The first thing I saw when I reached the breezeway was this.

Its a jail. Anyone can fill out a warrant and deputies will go round that person up and bring them to jail. It cost two tickets to put out the warrant. (Tickets were sold for a quarter) To get out of jail the prisoner had to coax someone to spring him/her at the cost of four tickets. This was a lot of fun!

Our deputies Don Walrath and Dale Jones.

I couldn’t help but notice Dale’s gun holster.

Don took his job very seriously as he takes Sig to jail.

Sig joined Wendy who was already incarcerated.

Meanwhile, in the Carnaval Room the area business booths were busy. JC Penney had reps from their Sephora cosmetics boutique on hand with lots of samples and free eyebrow waxing. Lots of ladies took advantage of that, me included.

People here in the park also had tables set up for their jewelry that they make and I do believe sales were brisk.

There were 20 volunteers that made up gift baskets for a silent auction. The winter residents really stepped up to the plate and bid handsomely for the baskets. Of course the ones who put them together did a great job!

Outside there was a cake walk happening. For two tickets you got to walk around the circle to the music be played by Frank McGuire on his keyboard. When the music stopped you stepped on a spot with a number on it. Then the game leader called out a number and if it was your spot you won a delicious cake or pie or cookies, again made by volunteers in the park.

Another popular game was the giant marshmallow golf game. One had to hit a giant marshmallow with a golf club and it was actually quite a ways. It had to land within the boundaries of a hula hoop for points.

It was while in this area that I heard Deputy Dale calling my name. Next thing I know I’m handed a warrant and the rubber handcuffs were slapped on my wrists. A warrant was put out for me and my crime was just being Snookie.

I was put in jail. (I am soooo in need of suntan!)

It took me only a few minutes to get out as four of my friends were ready to post my bail when I called out for help.

Another popular game was the Throw a Pie In the Face booth.

Here’s the park manager, Jeannie, serving her time behind the board.

Rick Fury really rubbing it in.

There were several other games that I didn’t get pictures of such as the bean bag toss, hole in one on the mini golf course and there may been a few others I can’t think of right now.

One activity that everybody wanted to do was the obstacle course. That’s obstacle course with a golf cart and the driver is blindfolded!

I hear its not as easy as it looks!

The carnival was a HUGE SUCCESS! The winter residents stepped up and provided things that were needed and they played the games and bid at the auction and supported the outside vendors that were there.

I’m glad I was there! I enjoyed myself. It was great catching up with friends that I hadn’t seen in weeks. The sun felt good and it was great being outdoors!

I’m fightin’ back!