“Family” Carnival??? Yeah right! More like a gang banger convention! Every time they do this there are fights and a who’s who of thugs. NOT a family event, in my humble opinion
I don`t want my kids anywhere near the people who run the rides.
Most if not all, look like they are drunk or on drugs.(toothless & tatoo`s)
The days of these things being a family event, are long gone (my opinion)
Tim,
Couldn’t agree with you more. We started going as a family about 8-9 yrs ago. You know, rides where you second-guess their safety, scary looking carnies, botulism-on-a-stick food…but it’s close and something to do as a family. And relative to one of the big amusement parks it’s a bargain, but it definitely is not “inexpensive”. But over the past few years the whole thug element is just too much. We gave it one more try last year, but there were the teenagers with the flat-billed hats and hoodies, and their harrdass looks. And almost on cue, two separate fights in the 1 hour we were there. Just a matter of time before an “innocent bystander” gets shot. No thanks, not this year or ever again.
My issue with these things are the safety of the equipment. If those people cannot maintain their teeth, what makes you think they maintain their equipment?
I’d rather take my family to an amusement park – you pay just as much!
If you are scared of the thugs don’t go at night. As soon as the sun goes down the thugs come out. Go around lunch time and it’s much better. As for the ride operators, (I believe toothless and tattooed was mentioned) look around, there are people with tattoos, piercings and yes some missing teeth working at Starbucks, Safeway, fast food places, etc. Shame on you for judging them by the way they look. At least they are working and not in front of a store asking for money. I have tattoos, use to have piercings too and on a bad day I may look like I’m on drugs when actually I may need a triple latte. Just sayn’, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
My husband and I have worked for Butler Amusements for over 30 years and we are not toothless, tatooed gangbangers. We raised 4 children on the carnival lot and they are all productive working citizens now, two of them did tours in the Marines. (none work for the carnival anymore) We bring lots of entertainment to many people.
Back in the 80′s everywhere we went there were american ‘s wanting jobs, then there just were not anymore americans wanting the jobs, they will pan handle “will work for food” and when I stop and tell them they can come get a job, they don’t really want to work. Not to mention they can’t pass a drug test. Now for the past 10 years or so we have had H2B workers out of Mexico. So we don’t have toothless, tatooed workers anymore, they are workers from Mexico. The carnival is a safe place unless the “gangbangers’ from your comunity show up and then it is not safe for anyone, the customers or the “carnies” Also, one more thing, our rides have the best safety record on the west coast and we are inspected by State Inspectors, Insurance Inspectors and Fair Inspectors all the time.
I won’t be going either but the Bay Area Crisis Nursery does good work. If you still want to help them you can go here: http://www.bacn.info/donate/index.htm
I worked at the carnival when it came to town several years ago, for a little extra cash. I’m a family man, business owner, who just wanted to gave fun. The carnival life is a lifestyle choice. Those folks working at the carnival which some judge by their looks, are some of the nicest and interesting people in the world. They are like a big family. I worked as a temporary Carny for Butler, who put safety in front of all else. I think the Carnies need to look out for the new offspring of thugs Concord is spawning. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Those folks are not your concern. Do you see Carneys carrying large hunting knives?.
Thank you Sally for your post. As a fellow member of Showfolks of America, I would also like people to know this is part of the same business you would normally see at any County or Ca. State fair.
I have never mentioned this on Claycord but I grew up in this tradition. My godparents owned West Coast Shows and my Dad started with the old circus trains before WWII…yes, he ran away to work in the circus. These shows were owned mostly by families….very wealthy families and workers were considered part of that family as kids we were very protected. My family moved on when I was 12 so my Dad could be an electrician at the Rad Lab in Livermore. My parents are at the memorial cemetery in Colma, where I will eventually be, I had a great life as a child. It’s not every kid that can have rides to themselves, ride my godparents race horses, dress up as a clown and be a stand in at the little traveling circus, it was the best of times.
Thanks Babs for the input. And I just want to say yes, Anon, they do break up fights but it is not the Carnival Employees that are fighting it is the kids from the community. And, to Carnival critic, a lot has changed in 50 years! A lot of the workers we have who are not from Mexico would not have jobs at all were it not for us, at least they are trying…they are not on welfare or standing on the street corner begging for money, they have jobs and are trying to better themselves….The school or other sponsors make money from the carnival and the money goes into your community..So we are not all bad! Anf finally, thank ypu Concord Gal, you are right don’t judge a book by it’s cover! You skeptics should come out on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, make your donation to enter and just walk around and check it out…..
First of all I would like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended by the jerks who are under the assumption that if you work in a carnival you a) have no teeth b) have a tattoo c) are on drugs d) are worthless. I am glad there are people who keep this tradition alive, without these employees there would be no carnivals! C’mon people its Concord not Lafayette or Moraga..who do you think you are!!
The carnival benefits the Grad Night program, which provides a safe and sober party after graduation. Five schools get together, decorate Centre Concord in an agreed-upon theme, and then as each school graduates, they get to celebrate in a fun and safe environment. Having $1 or a canned good for the BACN makes it even better. Two groups get to benefit from your visit to the carnival.
So this is benefitting Grad Night where kids are supposed to be in a safe environment but in order to raise funds, we are supposed to support a proven unsafe carnival environment where fights occur nightly and gang bangers hang out???
Holy cow. Some of you are so thin-skinned. Like apologizing to the carnies in case they were offended by the comments of others. Puh-leeze. If I work at DMV, I’m going to expect some jokes. Ditto for PG&E, CalTrans, or a professional doggie pooper-scooper. And same goes for a frickin’ carnie. Some of them are wonderful people. No doubt about it. That’s awesome. But anyone being honest knows the image they conjure up when they hear “carnie.”
Myself, last year I was a pixie-dust spreader on the Tilt-A-Whirl, but next year I hope to be guessing people’s weight or barking for the Yak Woman.
Wow, have you all been to the Walnut Festival? Have you been to the Alameda Fair? It seems that all types show up to any type of Carnival or Festival or Fair. Wow is all I can say by some of these comments. If you want to support a great program like Grad Night, go. If you can only find the bad in things, don’t go.
If it takes a village to raise a child then you all should be supportive of any program a school is sponsoring in the community.
We have gang bangers because they are ostracized from our communities.Pretend they are children and treat them like humans, a little empathy would not hurt.
Lets all get along take your children, one day they might be going to grad night.
I know the carnival has been changing , not just rides but career information, car shows and special events for the good of the community.
The entire community is invited to get out meet the people you live next to,
Support the High School seniors they have worked very hard to get where they are. And if you havent seen a grad night then you wouldnt understand the memories it creates for the kids it may be the last time these kids will see each other after all they have been thru.
I f you don’t support the school and the community then what?
@Concord Gal
Thank you so much. I was beginning to be extremely disgusted in the ignorance of so many people. I completely agree with you. Although the fights are annoying, it is still not the fault of those running it.
My nephew went to the carnival this evening with a friend. They just returned as a fight broke out between Concord High kids and Clayton Valley High kids.
Was feeling even more dubious than usual about the carnival scene this year due to the probability that the video tape made by a CHS student would bring out the rival gangbangers, so didn’t take the grandchildren down there. Is there a place in town where the carnival can set up without being on ANY school’s property? Not sure why we should be co-financing that business (clean up, police protection, etc.) anyway. I doubt the carnival pays a lot of taxes to the City.
I hate that some have grouped your ”Carnie” folks into one bad group. That really isn’t fair. I was in Lowe’s yesterday in middle America, and the fellow had to stay away from the magnets….his face was so pierced.
I worked for 2+ years as a teen in the ”local” carnival, King Norman’s Wonderland, with wild teenagers when it was brand new in a brand new Park n Shop. (now parts are parts of Pixie Play Land in WP Park).
Now this was the olden days…when boys wore their Levi’s hanging off their butts and rolled cigs up in their T Shirt sleeves and their ducktails were greased back. Mean looking Pachooookos. And these were kids of locals.
Girls were mean snots, and wore their socks rolled down into their Bucks. Skirts so tight they could hardly walk, and tucked in sweaters, over their falsies.
Earrings dangling down … looking like nite ladies.
Now these dudes and dudettes were mean sobs……..
King Norman wouldn’t let Bill Edwards hire that kind to work at the Wonderland………….we had to be ”clean cut” and have decent grades….discrimination?
How do you ”choose out” your gang bangers and eliminate them?
MO
Thank You Sally
Your words were very much needed. My kids are asking to go to the Carnival today, and I was hesitant to say yes… until I read your post. I feel confident in the safety of the rides my kids will be asking to go on!
{ 37 comments }
“Family” Carnival??? Yeah right! More like a gang banger convention! Every time they do this there are fights and a who’s who of thugs. NOT a family event, in my humble opinion
i know, my kids see them setting up and want to go but there is no was i’d take them there!
I don`t want my kids anywhere near the people who run the rides.
Most if not all, look like they are drunk or on drugs.(toothless & tatoo`s)
The days of these things being a family event, are long gone (my opinion)
Tim,
Couldn’t agree with you more. We started going as a family about 8-9 yrs ago. You know, rides where you second-guess their safety, scary looking carnies, botulism-on-a-stick food…but it’s close and something to do as a family. And relative to one of the big amusement parks it’s a bargain, but it definitely is not “inexpensive”. But over the past few years the whole thug element is just too much. We gave it one more try last year, but there were the teenagers with the flat-billed hats and hoodies, and their harrdass looks. And almost on cue, two separate fights in the 1 hour we were there. Just a matter of time before an “innocent bystander” gets shot. No thanks, not this year or ever again.
Pre-sale of tickets used to benefit the marching band. Is this still the case? If so, buy from the band first.
My issue with these things are the safety of the equipment. If those people cannot maintain their teeth, what makes you think they maintain their equipment?
I’d rather take my family to an amusement park – you pay just as much!
If you are scared of the thugs don’t go at night. As soon as the sun goes down the thugs come out. Go around lunch time and it’s much better. As for the ride operators, (I believe toothless and tattooed was mentioned) look around, there are people with tattoos, piercings and yes some missing teeth working at Starbucks, Safeway, fast food places, etc. Shame on you for judging them by the way they look. At least they are working and not in front of a store asking for money. I have tattoos, use to have piercings too and on a bad day I may look like I’m on drugs when actually I may need a triple latte. Just sayn’, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
Really Anon777? They probably don’t get dental insurance from Butler, shame on you too for judging!
My husband and I have worked for Butler Amusements for over 30 years and we are not toothless, tatooed gangbangers. We raised 4 children on the carnival lot and they are all productive working citizens now, two of them did tours in the Marines. (none work for the carnival anymore) We bring lots of entertainment to many people.
Back in the 80′s everywhere we went there were american ‘s wanting jobs, then there just were not anymore americans wanting the jobs, they will pan handle “will work for food” and when I stop and tell them they can come get a job, they don’t really want to work. Not to mention they can’t pass a drug test. Now for the past 10 years or so we have had H2B workers out of Mexico. So we don’t have toothless, tatooed workers anymore, they are workers from Mexico. The carnival is a safe place unless the “gangbangers’ from your comunity show up and then it is not safe for anyone, the customers or the “carnies” Also, one more thing, our rides have the best safety record on the west coast and we are inspected by State Inspectors, Insurance Inspectors and Fair Inspectors all the time.
I won’t be going either but the Bay Area Crisis Nursery does good work. If you still want to help them you can go here: http://www.bacn.info/donate/index.htm
Sally, see you at the dime toss! Love those fancy ashtrays.
I worked at the carnival when it came to town several years ago, for a little extra cash. I’m a family man, business owner, who just wanted to gave fun. The carnival life is a lifestyle choice. Those folks working at the carnival which some judge by their looks, are some of the nicest and interesting people in the world. They are like a big family. I worked as a temporary Carny for Butler, who put safety in front of all else. I think the Carnies need to look out for the new offspring of thugs Concord is spawning. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Those folks are not your concern. Do you see Carneys carrying large hunting knives?.
Thank you Sally for your post. As a fellow member of Showfolks of America, I would also like people to know this is part of the same business you would normally see at any County or Ca. State fair.
I have never mentioned this on Claycord but I grew up in this tradition. My godparents owned West Coast Shows and my Dad started with the old circus trains before WWII…yes, he ran away to work in the circus. These shows were owned mostly by families….very wealthy families and workers were considered part of that family as kids we were very protected. My family moved on when I was 12 so my Dad could be an electrician at the Rad Lab in Livermore. My parents are at the memorial cemetery in Colma, where I will eventually be, I had a great life as a child. It’s not every kid that can have rides to themselves, ride my godparents race horses, dress up as a clown and be a stand in at the little traveling circus, it was the best of times.
Even 50 years ago, the carnivals in Concord were kinda creepy.
Every year the Concord Police go from Concord High Carnival to the Shopping Center breaking up the gang fights.
I am far more humiliated to be associated with the harsh and judgmental people of Claycord then I would be to be associated with a carnival crew.
Thanks Babs for the input. And I just want to say yes, Anon, they do break up fights but it is not the Carnival Employees that are fighting it is the kids from the community. And, to Carnival critic, a lot has changed in 50 years! A lot of the workers we have who are not from Mexico would not have jobs at all were it not for us, at least they are trying…they are not on welfare or standing on the street corner begging for money, they have jobs and are trying to better themselves….The school or other sponsors make money from the carnival and the money goes into your community..So we are not all bad! Anf finally, thank ypu Concord Gal, you are right don’t judge a book by it’s cover! You skeptics should come out on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, make your donation to enter and just walk around and check it out…..
Maybe they should charge admission– that may deter the riff raff from hanging out.
First of all I would like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended by the jerks who are under the assumption that if you work in a carnival you a) have no teeth b) have a tattoo c) are on drugs d) are worthless. I am glad there are people who keep this tradition alive, without these employees there would be no carnivals! C’mon people its Concord not Lafayette or Moraga..who do you think you are!!
The carnival benefits the Grad Night program, which provides a safe and sober party after graduation. Five schools get together, decorate Centre Concord in an agreed-upon theme, and then as each school graduates, they get to celebrate in a fun and safe environment. Having $1 or a canned good for the BACN makes it even better. Two groups get to benefit from your visit to the carnival.
So this is benefitting Grad Night where kids are supposed to be in a safe environment but in order to raise funds, we are supposed to support a proven unsafe carnival environment where fights occur nightly and gang bangers hang out???
Holy cow. Some of you are so thin-skinned. Like apologizing to the carnies in case they were offended by the comments of others. Puh-leeze. If I work at DMV, I’m going to expect some jokes. Ditto for PG&E, CalTrans, or a professional doggie pooper-scooper. And same goes for a frickin’ carnie. Some of them are wonderful people. No doubt about it. That’s awesome. But anyone being honest knows the image they conjure up when they hear “carnie.”
Myself, last year I was a pixie-dust spreader on the Tilt-A-Whirl, but next year I hope to be guessing people’s weight or barking for the Yak Woman.
Carnies!!!!! LOVE EM!!! Takin’ my kids and ridin’ the Zipper all day long! Woo hoo!!
Wow, have you all been to the Walnut Festival? Have you been to the Alameda Fair? It seems that all types show up to any type of Carnival or Festival or Fair. Wow is all I can say by some of these comments. If you want to support a great program like Grad Night, go. If you can only find the bad in things, don’t go.
Does anyone know how much the wristbands are?
Thank you. It’s always refreshing to be knocked off our sterotyping asses.
Westwood sold tix to get wristband for $20.
If it takes a village to raise a child then you all should be supportive of any program a school is sponsoring in the community.
We have gang bangers because they are ostracized from our communities.Pretend they are children and treat them like humans, a little empathy would not hurt.
Lets all get along take your children, one day they might be going to grad night.
I know the carnival has been changing , not just rides but career information, car shows and special events for the good of the community.
The entire community is invited to get out meet the people you live next to,
Support the High School seniors they have worked very hard to get where they are. And if you havent seen a grad night then you wouldnt understand the memories it creates for the kids it may be the last time these kids will see each other after all they have been thru.
I f you don’t support the school and the community then what?
So, how many fights did they have at the carnival last night?
@Concord Gal
Thank you so much. I was beginning to be extremely disgusted in the ignorance of so many people. I completely agree with you. Although the fights are annoying, it is still not the fault of those running it.
does anyone know the hours for the carnival tomorrow?
My nephew went to the carnival this evening with a friend. They just returned as a fight broke out between Concord High kids and Clayton Valley High kids.
So take your little ones during the day if you’re afraid of the teens at night. It’s for a good cause and it’s fun.
The hours are noon to 9 pm on Sunday according to the flyer (click on it to see the hours).
it says to click on above flyer for more info…..9pm
Flo’s Mom @#32,
Was feeling even more dubious than usual about the carnival scene this year due to the probability that the video tape made by a CHS student would bring out the rival gangbangers, so didn’t take the grandchildren down there. Is there a place in town where the carnival can set up without being on ANY school’s property? Not sure why we should be co-financing that business (clean up, police protection, etc.) anyway. I doubt the carnival pays a lot of taxes to the City.
I hate that some have grouped your ”Carnie” folks into one bad group. That really isn’t fair. I was in Lowe’s yesterday in middle America, and the fellow had to stay away from the magnets….his face was so pierced.
I worked for 2+ years as a teen in the ”local” carnival, King Norman’s Wonderland, with wild teenagers when it was brand new in a brand new Park n Shop. (now parts are parts of Pixie Play Land in WP Park).
Now this was the olden days…when boys wore their Levi’s hanging off their butts and rolled cigs up in their T Shirt sleeves and their ducktails were greased back. Mean looking Pachooookos. And these were kids of locals.
Girls were mean snots, and wore their socks rolled down into their Bucks. Skirts so tight they could hardly walk, and tucked in sweaters, over their falsies.
Earrings dangling down … looking like nite ladies.
Now these dudes and dudettes were mean sobs……..
King Norman wouldn’t let Bill Edwards hire that kind to work at the Wonderland………….we had to be ”clean cut” and have decent grades….discrimination?
How do you ”choose out” your gang bangers and eliminate them?
MO
Thank You Sally
Your words were very much needed. My kids are asking to go to the Carnival today, and I was hesitant to say yes… until I read your post. I feel confident in the safety of the rides my kids will be asking to go on!
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