St. Davids Lions Carnival returns bigger and better

It’s been two years since we’ve had a St. Davids Lions Carnival to attend, so expect it to be not only back, but better than ever.

The Lions are planning for record attendance, buying extra to ensure they don’t run out of food, one of the mainstays of the four-day carnival.

There is also a full line-up of music planned for all four days, beginning Wednesday, July 20, and wrapping up Saturday, July 23, with a wine and beer tent in the evenings for an opportunity to enjoy a beverage while relaxing to the music.

Although alcohol is served, the carnival is still a great family event, says Glenn Miller, carnival chairperson and incoming club president.

The food booth will once again be offering the “world-famous Lions burger,” says Miller, the same popular burger which sustained the club through its successful Friday night barbecues when the carnival was cancelled. Hot off the barbecue will be peameal bacon on a bun, and the Great Canadian burger, a combination of beef and peameal. Also back are the fries, onion rings and much-loved corn on a cob — where else do you get it dipped in melted butter?

Townsend rides aimed at kids and young teens, bingo, and all the traditional Lions club activities, including the nickel sale and the popular grocery wheel — if you play, there’s a  chance you’ll take home a basket of groceries.

For the young ones, there will be pony rides, face-painting, and a fish pond.

The Leos (the youth branch of Lionism) will be very much in evidence, expecting to help out wherever needed, likely in the burger and fries booths, selling pop, and in the bingo tent, says Miller.

And St. Davids Queenston United Church will be back in their booth, selling the delicious, traditional selection of homemade pies made by parishioners.

The Lioness organize and run some of their own activities, including a popular game that doesn’t seem to have a name — participants choose a cup with a number of squares, varying according to price, starting at 35 squares for $2 – and then unfold them to see if they’ve won a prize.

Raffle tickets will be on sale at the carnival for a trailer, donated by Niagara Trailers, with a second prize of $1,000.

Miller explains that tickets sold for the 2020 carnival raffle, which was cancelled, will be honoured this year, for a chance of winning one of the two prizes.

Admission and parking are free, with lots of parking, and hopefully a shuttle bus available along York Road — that was still being finalized at press time.

The carnival runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 20 to 22, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, July 23, from noon to 11 p.m.