Tag Archives: carnival

Wyoming Summer Carnival to be held June 21-29 at Lamar Park

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Entertainment, Going Local, Kent County, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Wyoming Carnival (Courtesy, City of Wyoming)



By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


(Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

With the return of summer comes another seasonal tradition – the annual Wyoming Carnival!

Families are invited to Lamar Park to enjoy carnival rides, food, games and prizes June 21-29.

“The carnival is a great opportunity for people of all ages to come out and celebrate summer,” said Krashawn Martin, Director of Wyoming Parks & Recreation.

Years prior, the annual carnival was held in April. Martin said the City has been working for years to change the carnival to a summer date.

“Previously, we were this vendor’s very first event of the season,” said Martin. “This year it finally worked out for us that we are in June instead of our usual April date.

“We’re excited! It’ll be a great opportunity for families and neighbors to come out and enjoy the park, and enjoy the carnival at the same time.”

Impacting our youth through family fun

Not only does the carnival provide fun for the whole family, it funds youth scholarships and programming through the Parks & Recreation Department.

(Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

“Our carnival vendor, T.J. Schmidt & Company, they have been super generous and really wonderful to work with,” said Martin. “We have an agreement with them that a portion of their ticket sales will come back to the Parks and Recreation Department, and go directly toward our youth scholarships.”

Those scholarships can be utilized by most any youth in Wyoming under the age of 18.

“If you qualify for free or reduced lunch in your school location, you likely would qualify for a 50%, 75%, or even 100% scholarship for any of our recreation programs,” said Martin. “We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to get into these programs, that finances are not a barrier for anyone.”

Those interested in applying for a youth scholarship can fill out an application on the Parks & Recreation website, or visit the department office location.

The Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance distributes funds to the community through their annual grant awarding process.

Event details to know

The carnival will be open Monday through Thursday from 2 – 8:30 p.m., Friday from 12 – 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 8:30 p.m.

Ticket and wristband cost will be announced soon, with a $3-off coupon available on the Parks & Recreation Department social media site.

“You can show [the coupon] on your phone and get a discount on the wristband if you choose to go that route,” said Martin. “Otherwise, there are individual ticket sales for rides, food vendors and things like that.”


(Courtesy, City of Wyoming)

But wait – there’s more!

On Tuesday, June 25, attendees can also enjoy a performance by Brena at the Concerts in the Park series held at Lamar Park.

“We do the concert series every year, and it’s kind of the perfect balance,” said Martin. “For the week of the carnival, it is actually Brena, which is a popular cover band in Michigan. It will be a well-attended concert.

“To be going at the same time as the carnival gives even more opportunity for people to enjoy the park in a multitude of different ways.”

Martin encourages the community to come out and experience the family-friendly event.

“[The carnival] is a chance for us to build on a community tradition that funds a good cause impacting youth in Wyoming.”

Wyoming’s carnival set to open on Friday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Food, Non-Profits, Recreation,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

There will be a number of carnival rides and food offerings at the Wyoming Spring Carnival. (Supplied)

This Friday is the official kick off of activities in the City of Wyoming as city’s annual Spring Carnival returns for 10 days.

“This kicks off the season for us,” said Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin. “The carnival is the start of our events such as the concerts and we have some pop-up activities planned for July.

“So here is to beautiful weather and smooth sailing into summer for Wyoming.”

The carnival runs April 28 through May 7 at the Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Hours are from 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2-8:30 p.m. Friday and noon-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The carnival is free however there is a cost for rides and food. At the city’s website, there is a coupon for $3 off an unlimited ride wristband.

 

“This is usually the first event for TJ Schmidt & Company, which runs the carnival,” Martin said. “They always have some fun and new rides and this is the opportunity to explore them. I am not sure exactly what they will be, so people will have to come see for themselves.”

A staple in the city city for more than 30 years, proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community its through annual grant awarding process.

Last year, the carnival raised around $15,000.

The Spring Carnival is weather dependent and before attending residents should check with the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page for updates on the carnival.

 

The Spring Carnival is made possible through the work of the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation and TJ Schmidt & Company. For more information about the carnival, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164. 

Wyoming Police seeking information on shooting at carnival

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking information on a shooting that took place Saturday, May 1, at the carnival being held at Lamar Park.

 

At approximately 7:35 pm on May 1, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to the reports of shots fired at the carnival. Witnesses reported seeing a white 4 door vehicle driving quickly through the parking lot. The white vehicle stopped near a red pick-up truck and an occupant of the white vehicle fired several rounds into the truck. The white vehicle then fled the park westbound on Porter St. The red pick-up truck fled the park in an unknown direction prior to police arrival.

Two vehicles in the parking lot were struck by rounds being fired at the red truck. At this time, no victims or suspects have been identified in this incident. 

The carnival was closed for the remainder of the weekend.

 

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. 

Snapshots: Things to do this weekend

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

In spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 24 hours.

Author and humorist Mark Twain



Wyoming’s annual Spring Carnival will open this weekend at Lamar Park. (Supplied)

Carnival Days

Wyoming’s Spring Carnival is taking place through May 2 at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The carnival, which is operated by TJ Schmidt & Company, features a host of games and rides. Health and safety measures are in place for guests, employees, and vendors. Masks must be worn at the carnival. Hours of operation are 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 2 – 8:30 p.m. Friday; and noon – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“Bee” in “Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGOs” at the Grand Rapids Public Museum through May 2. (Supplied)

Last Call

Visitors have a limited time left to explore the popular Under the Arctic and Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks exhibitions at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM). Under the Arctic’s last date to visit will be Sunday, April 25 and the last date to visit Wild Connections is Sunday, May 2. Explore larger-than-life sculptures made with more than 2 million LEGO® bricks in Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks! The sculptures teach about animal endangerment, ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature. Included with GRPM admission tickets, Under the Arctic addresses climate change through the lens of a thawing Arctic environment to educate visitors about permafrost’s fascinating characteristics and its greater implications. For more information, visit grpm.org.

Head for the Trees

The popular high ropes course TreeRunner Grand Rapids is now open. Located behind Celebration! Cinema north, the adventure park features six trails of various skill, ranging from easy to hardest. If you go, remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Safety precautions are being taken at the course with limited tickets available. For more information, visit www,treerunnerspark.com/grandraids/.


Tulips are actually from China

We often associate the tulip with the Netherlands. however the unique flower’s origins come from Central Asia. The Turks cultivated the flowers as early as 10,000 A.D. and they named the flowers “tulip” which comes from the Turkish word turban. The tulip was introduced to the Netherlands in the late 16th century. According to the legend, a famous biologist Carolus Clusius, was working in the oldest botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. A friend from Turkey, sent Clusius tulip flowers for his garden in Leiden and thus started the Tulipmania craze. Check out the tulips at this year’s Holland Tulip Time festival taking place May 1 – 9.

Wyoming’s spring carnival set to open this Friday

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , , ,

It’s time to celebrate spring, which the City of Wyoming plans to do by hosting its annual spring carnival at Lamar Park.

 

The carnival opens on Friday, April 27 and runs through Sunday, May 6, at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. Carnival times are Monday through Thursday from 4 – 8:30 p.m.; Friday from 2-8:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 8:30 p.m. 

 

“What says family fun like a spring carnival?” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “The carnival is a great opportunity for the community to come out and celebrate the change in seasons in a fun and exciting atmosphere.”

 

The carnival will feature entertainment for all ages, including games, prizes, and carnival fare favorites. A spectrum of rides will be available for carnival-goers, from crowd pleasers, such as a carousel and Ferris Wheel to the adrenaline-inducing Mega Drop and Wipe Out.

 

Proceeds from the carnival support City of Wyoming parks and recreation services and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance or GWCRA. Funds raised support youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. The GWCRA distributes funds to the community through its annual grant awarding process.

 

The spring carnival is made possible through the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, call the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.

Late start, early closure of carnival puts a dent in city’s profits

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Hard News, , , ,

The City of Wyoming is weighing several different options for future carnival events.
The City of Wyoming is weighing several different options for future carnival events.

Due to a late start followed by an early closure of its carnival, City of Wyoming officials expect its revenues to be “significantly” less than last year, coming in under $10,000, way below the $30,000 goal.

 

Wintry weather caused a delay in the opening of the spring carnival, moving the opening from Friday, April 8, to Monday, April 11. Despite the delay, city officials said if the weather cooperated, they felt they could make their goals.

 

The weather did turn warmer, but the city closed the carnival at various times on Thursday and Friday due to shooting incidents near the event. City officials officially announced the shutdown of the annual event at the former Studio 28 parking lot on the morning of April 16, about two days before the scheduled conclusion. City officials made the decision to close the carnival because of the shooting incidents. The first was on Thursday, April 14, when a 19-year-old man showed up at Metro Hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. While witnesses to the shooting were uncooperative, Wyoming police officers believed the this shooting took place in the parking lot next to 1350 28th St. SW.

 

On Friday, April 15, officers heard a gunshot in a parking lot south of the carnival. The officers witnessed a vehicle leaving and made a traffic stop, discovering two guns and arresting three people on weapon charges. Both events are still under investigation.

 

“We are still working on the final numbers,” said Wyoming’s Community Services Director Rebecca Rynbrandt about the carnival, adding that the city is working with the carnival vendor on expenses he had to incur do to the early closure.

 

“We are expecting our portion to be significantly less than what we had hoped,” Rynbrandt said. She said that the estimated amount is less than $10,000. Last year, the city earned about $26,000. The money from the carnival is split between the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department and the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance (GWRCA). The Parks and Recreation Department uses the money to help with park needs. The GWRCA funds youth scholarships and youth and family programming through the Parks and Recreation Department.

 

Rynbrandt said officials will be reviewing park needs and funding along with meeting with GWRCA to assess funding and programs.

 

As for the future of the carnival, Rynbrandt said the city is still reviewing all of its options.

 

“One thing people should be aware is that carnivals themselves are not bad and provide wonderful services in the city of Wyoming,” Rynbrandt said, emphasizing that none of the incidents took place at the carnival. Rynbrandt added that city officials want to wrap up this year’s event and then take a step back to look at everything such as location and time of year.

 

“Our number one priority is public safety,” Rynbrandt said. “As sponsor of the event we hold ourselves to a much higher accountability in that regards.”

 

Captain Kim Koster, from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety echoed the city’s commitment to safety of its residents and visitors. With safety at the forefront, Koster said the department is working with other organizers on upcoming city events.

 

“Our Department of Public Safety has and will continue to worked with the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce and the participating businesses to determine and provide the appropriate level of police presence for the Metro Cruise, and we are always happy to work with other community organizations to plan for similar events.,” Koster said. “Similarly, public safety has worked with the Community Clean-Up Day [which takes place this Saturday] committee to determine the appropriate level of police presence for the day’s activities.”

 

Rynbrandt noted that the city does accept donations for its park and recreation programs. Anyone interested in donating, should contact the City of Wyoming’s Park and Recreation Department.