Back at a new time of year and just under a decade since its inception, the annual cornucopia of rides, games, and tasty foods that make up the Madison Rotary Club carnival will run this month from Wednesday to Saturday, July 14 to 17 at Academy Field, returning from a pandemic hiatus as the Rotary Club looks make a splash and bring awareness about the important charitable work it leads locally.

With the club now working with a company based in Connecticut that specifically focuses on running carnivals for charitable causes, the colorful lights and fun rides are all meant to help the club in its mission to brighten the world both locally and around the world, according to Rotary Communications Chair Robert Friend.

Traditionally held around Labor Day, the carnival was moved up to be a sort of grand kick-off to what every hopes is the end of the pandemic, according to Friend. Food trucks will replace the food tent and new gentle rides will be offered, as well as more thrilling offerings for older children. The carnival is meant to be small-town summer fun for any and everyone.

The company putting on the carnival, Tufano Amusements based in Cheshire, has made it its mission to put on smooth and fun events for non-profits and charitable organizations, according to Rotary President Robin Miller. That has translated into something that fits really well with what Rotary wants to do for the carnival, and what he hopes will be a great experience for residents.

“That’s kind of a unique way to handle it,” she said. “They’re saying, ‘You pick what you want to do, and we take care of the rest.’”

While the food tent could not happen with limited time to plan around the uncertainty of COVID restrictions earlier this year, Friend said there would be more than enough delicious and carnival-type snacks available through various food trucks.

There will also be opportunities at the carnival to purchase tickets for the MADraffle, a popular fundraiser run by Rotary, now in its second year, that gives residents a chance to win up to $3,400 in giftcards to local businesses.

All money raised by the carnival benefits the Rotary Foundation, which supports everything from scholarships and local nonprofits to the international eradication of polio. During the pandemic, even with fundraisers and big events on hold the Rotary Club quietly continued to provide vital donations to front-line organizations like Vista Life, Friend said, scrounging up masks and other equipment that helped them weather the toughest times of 2020.

Rotary donations have also gone to the E.C. Scranton Library in its re-opening efforts as well as the American Legion in their support of local veterans.

“I’m not sure whether the community really understands the impact of Rotary,” he said. “We’re not a social organization; we are an international global volunteer community that is all about giving back.”

Both Friend and Miller said they hope residents know they are really making the world a better place as they step out for hot dogs and Ferris wheel rides, as the event is one of Rotary’s biggest fundraisers.

Miller took the reins at Madison Rotary about a week ago, and said she hoped to see more residents step up and get involved, with no huge time commitments and plenty of opportunities to make a difference in their community.

“I think there’s really this perception out there that [Rotary] is a bunch of White businessmen sitting around having lunch,” Miller said. “That’s not what it is at all.”

For more information on the Madison Rotary Club, visit www.madisonctrotary.com.