This past weekend, Astoria Park in Astoria, Queens, New York, hosted its annual summer carnival that ran from Wednesday, June 5, 2024, to Sunday, June 9, 2024.
The event promised a delightful mix of rides, games, and fair food, making it a highly anticipated activity for the summer season. As a girl who enjoys the thrill of carnival festivities, I was eager to partake in the fun and excitement, but little did I know that the experience would leave me yearning for more.
Despite the scheduled hours of operation from 4 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday through Friday, and extended hours from 12 pm to 11:59 pm on Saturday and Sunday, the sheer volume of attendees made it challenging to fully enjoy all the attractions. The carnival atmosphere usually awakens a sense of childlike wonder inside of me, with its colorful lights and lively sounds, but this time, the journey to the event proved to be quite grueling. Enduring a lengthy 2-and-a-half-hour traffic jam on the way to the city, followed by a frantic 45-minute search for parking, dampened my initial excitement.
Upon entering the carnival grounds located under the RFK Bridge at the corner of Hoyt Ave. N and 19th St, the first thing that caught my attention was the significant police presence. While their presence was reassuring, it hinted at potential issues within the fair.
The sight of the endless line for the Ferris wheel snaking out of the entrance further highlighted the overwhelming crowd size. While navigating through the carnival grounds, I couldn't help but notice the relatively small size of the venue compared to larger state fairs like those in The Meadowlands, NJ, or the grand North Carolina state fair. Despite managing my expectations, the energy within the fair felt unusually tense, likely heightened by the humid weather and the congested layout, eventually led to a scuffle later in the day, sending people running in every direction.
In an attempt to salvage the experience, my friend and I decided to forego the lengthy ride queues and instead tried our luck at the various carnival games. Interestingly enough the games had the shortest lines, most likely because these were paid activities. Each game costed an average of $10, and after a few rounds, I emerged victorious with the cutest stuffed avocado prize I affectionately named 'Cado. Finally, after working up an appetite, it was time for my favorite part: carnival eats.
The diverse array of food options at the carnival, ranging from Colombian arepas to Turkish shish kabobs and Italian zeppoles, showcased a vibrant mix of cultures, adding a flavorful touch to the event. Despite the long food lines, the vendors efficiently catered to the hungry crowds, ensuring to satisfy the little tummies demanding more cotton candy. If the options inside the fair weren't enough, the surrounding streets outside the fairgrounds were lined with an assortment of food and dessert trucks, offering even more culinary delights to explore.
Overall, while the Astoria Carnival had its share of challenges, it still managed to succeed in showcasing the vibrant carnival culture and diverse culinary offerings. To be candid, for those considering attending next year, unless you are a local New Yorker the effort and cost involved in visiting the carnival might not be worth it. However, personal experiences can vary, and attending such a highly anticipated event can still hold value in terms of personal enjoyment and cultural exploration. Nevertheless, I am pleased to have personally witnessed one of the most talked-about events of the season.
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