Fourth of July Carnival Opens at Hastings Park Today

For most of the year, Hastings Park is a place for passive recreation. This week won’t be like most of the year.

There will be rides, games, funhouses, food and fireworks over the next five days, as the Lexington Lions Club’s Fourth of July Carnival occupies the park from 6 p.m. tonight through Saturday, July 6.

This will be the carnival’s 57th year and the second consecutive held at Hastings Park, where it moved in 2012 due to renovations and repairs to the playing fields at its previous location across Worthen Road.

Beyond the standard carnival attractions, Lions Club President Michael Healey said locals can look forward to a brand new Ferris which wasn’t quite ready for last year’s event.

The carnival opens tonight, from 6 to 11 p.m. Here’s a rundown of the hours of operation:

• Tuesday, July 2: 6 to 11 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 3: 6 to 11 p.m. – Fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
• Thursday, July 4: 1 to 11 p.m.
• Friday, July 5: 6 to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, July 6: 1 to 11 p.m.

Admission at all times will be $1, with children under age 6 getting in for free.

There’s a pretty much persistent chance of showers throughout the carnival’s time in Lexington. A drizzle won’t douse the amusement, but downpours and lightning could be cause for concern.

In the case of severe weather, the carnival operators, Fiesta Shows, will consult with the Lexington Police and Fire departments about closing the carnival. The Lions Club won’t be involved in those decisions, Healey said.

It’s unclear whether the Lions Club Carnival will make Hastings Park its permanent home, but Healey said the club would be excited about utilizing the space into the future.

“We think it’s a great new home,” he said. “It’s really a very nice spot for the carnival that’s a little more intimate and has access to more parking spots that were a little further away before.”

By parking, Healey was referring to the lots at St. Brigid’s and Grace Chapel.

Though the carnival itself has located across Worthen Road to Hastings Park, the annual Youth Games are still held across the way at Crumb Field. Read on for more on the games, special features and carnival discounts.

Special Features

• The annual fireworks display will be a 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3
• Fiesta Shows will be back with its rides, fun houses, games and classic carnival foods
• The Lions Club will have its Food Trailer and Hospitality Tent, and will have an Information and Safety Trailer manned with Lions Club and an EMT at all times.

Fourth of July Field Games

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 4, the Lions Club will host its free annual Youth Games on Crumb Field for local children ages 6 to 12. Featured in the games will be costume contests, races, bubble gum blowing contests and more. Parents whose children are interested in participating should fill out an application form (available on the Lions Club website) and bring it to the games.

Money Saving Discounts!

Print out the coupon posted as a PDF above, or download and print it from the Lexington Lions Club's website, and you can enjoy unlimited rides for $20 (it’s $25 without the coupon) during the following four times:

• Tuesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to close
• Thursday, July 4, from 1 to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, July 5, from 6 p.m. to close
• Saturday, July 6, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Charity

Partial proceeds from the Fourth of July carnival benefit the Lexington Lions Charities.