By Kayla Folkes, Staff Writer
Driving south in Nags Head, you pass a cluster of flashing lights and suddenly take a closer look. You see extravagant rides, food trucks and people with smile-covered faces. You hear laughs and the music of many games. You smell fresh funnel cakes and can practically taste the sweet cotton candy. Before long, you’re touching the fluffy stuffed animal you spent way too much money on winning at the carnival booth.
All five senses come into play in this experience that comes once a year known as the Soundside FunFair. This year’s event takes place June 5-8 from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Soundside event site in Nags Head. Many students love to attend as a way to kick off the summer when school has finally come to a close.
The fair was established eight years ago to benefit the Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County, which is a non-profit organization that connects kids and families to what they need to thrive.
Admission and parking is free. If you want to enjoy the rides, you can buy an all-you-can-ride wristband for $30 or single tickets for $1.50 each. Ticket and wristband sales are cash, but most food and game vendors will take credit cards.
Many students who have gone over the years have had positive experiences, such as sophomore Kai Stabley, who has been going to the fair for as long as she can remember.
“It is always super fun and I have never had a bad time there. It is something everyone should experience,” Stabley said.
Sophomore Makenna Kerns agreed: “I think it’s fun because you get to see people from different schools and you get to go on fun rides and it’s just something to do since we don’t have things that come down here that often.”
The fair consists of 12 to 14 rides, food trucks and carnival games, so there is something for everyone. Sophomore Jayden Spence said his favorite memory from the carnival came just before closing one year.
“All my friends were the last ones on the Ferris wheel and they just kept running it,” Spence said. “It was super fun.”
That kind of fun for locals and tourists alike is what makes the carnival such a hit year after year.
“Children & Youth Partnership is thrilled to be able to bring the Soundside FunFair back as a fun kick-off to summer for those in our community!” said CYP’s Carla Heppert.
Sophomore Kayla Folkes can be reached at FolkesKa6653@daretolearn.org.
