Carnival Underway For Memorial Day Weekend

ODENTON, MD — With plenty of outdoor activities in Anne Arundel County, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer.

The annual Odenton carnival, which is open all weekend, is one such tradition to kick off the fun.

The carnival started Tuesday. It runs through Monday at the Odenton fire station, located at 1425 Annapolis Road.

The rides begin at 6 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 4 p.m. Monday. Closing time depends on attendance, but the rides are usually open until at least 9:30 p.m. The carnival closes later on the weekend.

The Odenton Volunteer Fire Company Honor Guard will hold a presentation and a reading at 5 p.m. on Memorial Day.

All-you-can-ride bracelets cost $35. They are only valid for the date of purchase.

Rides include the Ferris wheel, the Zipper, the drop tower and the swings. There's also a kids' play course and a children's roller coaster among other rides.

Attendees can try their luck at classic carnival games and grab a snack available for purchase.

The carnival rides are presented by Majestic Midways out of York, Pennsylvania.

The festivities serve as a major fundraiser for the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, which is also known for its food truck Thursdays that run from March to November.

Odenton volunteers ran nearly 600 calls last month. That included 314 fire calls and 273 medical calls.

With such a heavy call volume, the station is always recruiting volunteers, ranging from first responders to office staff. More information on volunteering is posted here.

If you want to help but don't have time to volunteer, donations are gladly accepted. Anne Arundel County residents can donate to the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company at this link.

More information is posted at ovfc28.org.