The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Dave Rogers

For The Record

Heavy recent rainfall and soggy grounds have caused the Orange Lions Club Charity Carnival to be postponed until mid- and late October.

“We got the rides out and started setting them up Sept. 7. Since then, we’ve had rains and haven’t been able to work,” Sandra Williams, president of the Orange Lions Club, said.

Originally, the 2018 carnival was to kick off Sept. 26.

The new dates are Oct. 17-20 and Oct. 24-27.

“I know everybody likes to have it at the end of September and the first of October, but I think it’ll all work out,” Williams said.

“We just can’t do anything with the ground so wet.”

Monday night, Lions Club members wore rubber knee boots to make it from the parking lot at Lions Den Park to the covered pavilion for a safety meeting.

They are hoping the ground will dry out to enable them to finish moving and setting up the rides this week.

The Orange Lions Club Charity Carnival is unique because the club owns the rides. All Orange County Lions Clubs participate, including the Orange Lions Club, the Orange Noon Lions, the Bridge City, Vidor and Little Cypress Lions Clubs.

“We have decided to adjust dates of the carnival to allow time for the park to dry out,” Orange Lions Club Facebook page said.

“We wish to ensure the safety of all our guests and want to make the carnival as enjoyable and dry as possible.

“We’re looking forward to an amazing carnival! See you in a few weeks!”

This will be the 78^th year for the Lions Clubs to put on the event which is an Orange County tradition and raises money for vision screenings and glasses for qualifying residents, pays for scholarships to the Texas Lions Camp for children with physical challenges and many other causes like Back to School Orange County and the Cops and Kids picnic.

Waiting for the carnival has become a mini-tradition.

The 2017 event was washed away by Tropical Storm Harvey and the disaster it left in its wake.

“We’re looking forward to a good year,” Williams said.

“We try to help the community as much as we can, and this is our biggest fundraiser.”

The president said volunteers are needed to work evenings during the carnival. They should meet at the bingo booth each night at 6 p.m. for assignments.