Several infants could be seen enjoying their very first experience with Ferris wheels, cotton candy, and the rest of the Midway. Some smiled big, and a few cried. From toddlers to grandpas, the Carnival By the Sea has been a fun respite in chilly Fort Bragg.
During setup and last Thursday, the temperatures at the event were as much as 50 degrees cooler than inland places in Mendocino County. For the “cool” kids on the Coast as well as the wannabees, the carnival was the place to be. But mostly it was families, both local and those from inland reveling in spending time together in chilly and sometimes foggy Fort Bragg.
The fog was heavy and temperatures were around 55 at the noon opening on Saturday but clear skies had made their way in by mid-afternoon.
There is no admission fee to the Carnival by the Sea. To ride the rides, people buy an unlimited rides wristband for $35 or can buy tickets.
The event is sponsored by the Skunk Train, which allows the Fort Bragg Mendocino Lions Club to use the old Georgia Pacific Millsite for the event. Ancient trains, the enormous twin drying sheds, and the Pacific Ocean are the backdrop for the event.
“We are thrilled we can use the Skunk Train’s property for our fundraiser. We lost our site for the carnival three years ago and the Skunk stepped up to help,” said Cindy Lemas of the Lions Club. “This will be the third year out on the former mill site. They decided to allow us to keep using the property despite everything going on, and we are thankful for that.”
Robert Pinoli, President of Mendocino Railroad, said the Lions and the Skunk have a long-term relationship that helped in the decision to open the mill site to the volunteers for this fundraiser.
“We’ve had a very long-standing relationship. My first year working for the railroad was 1993, I was a Host / Passenger Service Attendant on the Lions Safari, the steaks at Camp Mendocino were delicious and people had a rip-roaring good time,” said Robert Pinoli, president of the Skunk Train.
The Fort Bragg-Mendocino Lions Club is a non-religious, non-political, civic club with regular community efforts and fundraisers, part of an international charity with their Mission “We Serve” which includes works to better eyesight around the world, such as giving away eyeglasses. In Fort Bragg, the club has provided eye tests, paid for eye exams, and glasses for low-income people for many years. A key community effort is the full Senior Christmas Dinner club members cook on Christmas Day for shut-ins and those who can make it to the hall. Other sponsored events are the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Haunted Hall of Horrors Halloween attraction. Coming up on Sunday, July 30 at 1 p.m. at Lions Hall is a free presentation from Canine for Companions, a Lions-sponsored organization that provides companion dogs for disabled people and veterans. The Lions Club wants to reach out to our community to let them know this is a service available to them. The club also provides Vocational Scholarships for graduating seniors bound for trade schools.
“No way, said Tim Gillespie of the Lions Club. People are always glad to get away from the heat and it takes time for them to finally cool down here.”
