The lawn of Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library was the place to be on Saturday, July 1 if you were a kid. An old-time carnival with a giant bouncy house was held and fun was had by all! The carnival was a fundraiser for the library’s children’s programming. BHML trustees’ chairperson Marta Peters said just over $1,700 was raised. 

The trustees had been brainstorming ideas for a fundraiser that would be fun for the group the raised funds would be for. Peters suggested a carnival. “I loved carnivals as a kid and still do,” Peters said. “We all started coming up with games we played at carnivals when we were kids. And we knew we had to have a bouncy house. Kids love them. I have a 9-year-old son who loves bouncy houses, and all of his friends go nuts over them.”

And the bouncy house was one of the most popular activities at the carnival – that and watching each cotton candy order being made. 

All games were three tickets. When each child or parent first bought tickets, they were given a bag for prizes that would be collected from the game's tables:  knock down cans, cornhole, ping pong toss (kids tried their hands at throwing a ping pong ball into one of the jars that held a prize inside) and ring toss. 

Trustee Marion Coleman was at the ring toss table where small rubber ducks floated in a pool. The prize at this game was a rubber ducky. 

Free fun included a photo booth and drawing and activity table. In addition to cotton candy, there were candy and caramel apples and freshly made popcorn – the usual carnival fare.

“It was so successful,” Peters said. “We were surprised at how well it turned out. When a schedule opening came up during Windjammer Days it seemed like the perfect time – and there was even sun that day! The kids loved seeing the cotton candy come out of nowhere and then poof! onto the cone, just like we all (loved) when we were kids.”

Sandcastle Entertainment gave BHML the tent and the cotton candy machine and supplies to go with it. Knickerbocker Group sponsored the bouncy house, and Peters said it will continue to do so each year. Peters noted each trustee provided everything they needed for their game or table; no library funds were used.

“At one point I think I counted 40 people on the lawn, but it was so busy none of us were keeping track,” Peters said. “I think we had just as much fun as the kids. All of the parents thought it was wonderful ... We’re very happy about how it all turned out. And next year we are having a dunk tank!”

BHML has youth programming year-round. Check out the events calendar at https://bbhlibrary.org/events