Tilt-a-Whirl, Dizzy Dragon, Superloop, oh my! The Needham Rotary Club invites everyone to check out these rides and several more at this year’s 10th Annual Needham Carnival.
The club has been partnering with Cushing Amusements from Wilmington for years to put on the Needham Carnival. This year, there will be 12 rides for families to enjoy over the next few days outside Needham High School.
The names reveal the range of thrill levels: Gondola Ferris Wheel, Phantom’s Revenge, Superloop, Tilt-a-Whirl, Casino, Dragon Wagon, Train Station, Wrecking Ball, Spin Out, Cliffhanger, Mardi Gras and Dizzy Dragon.
Rotary Club coordinator Ted Shaughnessy has led the effort to welcome thousands of thrill-seekers to the Needham Carnival each year.
“If you haven’t been there, you absolutely should come. We do not charge admission. It’s one of the few places that does not,” Shaughnessy said. “Just watch all the kids having fun. It’s just an uplifting experience. It’s something to do, and you can park not too far away.”
The club has secured the carnival’s spot outside the high school for 10 years now, and Shaughnessy feels that they hit the jackpot for location.
“We’re up on top of the hill. So there’s good visibility from Highland Ave. There are plenty of parking spaces all around the hill so that nobody has to cross a street.”
The carnival also features classic carnival games where attendees can find fried food and win prizes.
While there is no admission fee, rides cost $3 to $6 depending how elaborate they are. Attendees can purchase ride tickets in advance or at the gates. On Sunday, people can also buy unlimited-ride wristbands for noon to 5 p.m. These wristbands can be purchased online for $30 or at the gates for $40.
The Rotary Club gives free rides to the Needham Community Council, the Charles River Center, the Walker School, the Needham Public Library Children’s Department, and to surrounding neighbors near NHS.
“We give rides to the library reading program,” Shaughnessy said. “We give them some free rides that they can raffle off to kids that meet certain reading requirements.”
Shaughnessy said various Needham and state departments are very helpful in putting together the carnival, especially for safety.
“Fire comes up and does their inspection,” Shaughnessy said. “The state has special safety inspectors that come out. Cushing has to run every ride for them, and they get in, and they crawl around, and they look at everything and check and make sure everything is safe and good to go.”
The carnival, a Needham family favorite, will run until Sunday, July 26.
“Everybody is happy and having fun and laughing, except when the parents are dragging the kids out to bring them home. Then they’re not so happy,” Shaughnessy said.
The Needham Carnival takes place outside Needham High School (609 Webster St.). The hours and days are:
Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, July 24, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, Noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 26, Noon to 6 p.m.
Images of each ride can be found at https://www.cushingamusements.com/our-rides, and ride credits can be purchased at https://cushing.magicmoneyllc.com/MagicMoney_Web/ETicket/TicketDetails/139
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