From left, Eduardo Rodas, Luis Barrios and Jasmin Prez, all of Lynn, fly through the air while riding Vertigo during the Lynn Carnival Saturday. (Spencer Hasak)
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LYNN – Those walking through the Common this weekend likely heard a symphony of screams, laughter and circus music from the Lynn Carnival of Fiesta Shows on Western Avenue.
On Sunday, the final day of the four-day carnival, dozens of people of all ages lined the gates for some good old-fashioned family fun. Father David Perez brought his four children to the carnival because, he said, there was something for everyone to do.
“Just having a good time here with the kids. I have four kids of all different ages, so there’s a lot of fun things for them to do here,” Perez said.
His son, Damien Perez, 7, said his favorite ride was the flying bus, as it flipped backwards and forwards.
“It goes in circles and it goes back and it’s exciting,” Damien Perez said. “There’s something spinning around, and then there’s a bridge, and it’s like you’re spinning.”
Damien’s younger sister Emma, 6, said she preferred the Seven Seas ride, which lifts a string of carnival-goers high into the air and then drops them in a circular spin.
“I like to go on scary rides sometimes,” Emma Perez said.
Isabella Perez, 10, said she liked the Viper ride because it made her feel like she was floating, and her three-year-old sister, Anna, said she liked the Dizzy Dragon.
Garrett Duato, who works the Fishbowl Frenzy booth, was born into a carnival family. He said he enjoys the communal aspects of carnival work, along with the constant travel.
“I’ve been at this my whole life. I am the second generation, the third generation of my son. I was born on this show, my parents met here, I’ve been doing this for years,” said Duato, 27. “A lot of new faces, it doesn’t seem like many Americans want to work anymore, so we have to bring in help from outside. They are really good, the boys are good, the trips are good, we are all alive and raising a family here. We all care about each other […] I have a gypsy soul, I like to travel. I never like to be in the same place for more than a week or two. It’s how I was born, how I grew up, and I just love it.”
The Ferris wheel spins as people make their way around Lynn’s carnival on Saturday. (Spencer Hasak)
Bank-A-Ball game operator TJ Lynch has only been at the carnival for a month, but he said that while the work can be tiring and difficult at times, the interactions he has with the crowd, mixed with a positive attitude . make it fun for him.
“Sometimes it gets a little chaotic with the set up and tear down and everything, but everything and everything is a lot of fun. You come out here with a good attitude and you’ll be treated well, if you don’t then it’s not for everyone. It’s a lot of hard work, you can be in the heat for eight hours, but with the right determination, it can be really fun,” Lynch said. “There were many interesting characters I had to face. I’d say my favorite was probably a guy who was messing with me while he was playing, and he was just such a character, it was like something out of Looney Tunes, he was crazy, but it was a lot of fun.”
Aria Jose Ramirez has worked in the basketball booth at the carnival for more than 10 years, and he said he can tell what trips people have been on based on how they approach his game.
“The fun here, what the atmosphere is like and how everyone works together here,” Ramirez said. “Depending on the trips you go on, there’s always a different energy and different personalities. Depending on what trips people are on, you never know what kind of energy or vibe you’re going to get here.”
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival will go to the Lynn Fireworks Fund.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected]
