carnivals

The Stafford Volunteer Fire Department's annual four-day carnival starts at 6 p.m. tonight and ends at 9 p.m. on Sunday.

The carnival takes place at the fire station, at 6153 Main Road in Stafford, and will include rides, games, refreshments, parades, live music, a drawing for a 1965 Nassau Blue Corvette Convertible, a cam stand, a flea market, a fireman's chicken BBQ, a Kiddie Tractor Pull and Saturday evening fireworks and more.

The dates/times are as follows:

6 to 10 p.m., Thursday, June 17

6 to 11 p.m., Friday, June 18 (there will also be a fish fry at 4 p.m. in the Fire Hall)

Noon to 5 p.m., and 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday, June 19

Noon to 5 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m., Sunday, June 20

Fore more details, including costs, visit the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department's website at www.staffordvfd.org, call 343-2909 or e-mail svfd@rochester.rr.com.

The Penny Carnival is one of the biggest fundraisers at St. Joseph's School on 2 Summit St. It is open to the public and will be held at the school from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.

The carnival features games, inflatables, food, prizes, raffles and a $1,000 cash giveway. There are also some new features this year, like the Slam 'N Jam inflatable for basketball fans, Sponge Bob Bowling, and the raffling off of an iPod TOUCH with accessories.

The following tickets may be purchased from any SJS student:

Green tickets- $1,000 Cash Giveaway. $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5.

Ivory tickets- Giant Variety Raffle, including more than 100 prizes donated by SJS parents and friends, as well as local businesses and merchants. $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5.

Yellow tickets- Basket Raffle, featuring themed baskets -- including "Baking," "Kids," "Bath-n-Beauty," "Movie Basket" and others -- put together by each SJS class; participants will write their choice down on the ticket. $0.50 per ticket or 12 tickets for $5.

Pink tickets- $100+ Lottery Raffle (for $100 worth of lottery tickets); $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5.

Blue tickets- iPod Touch and Accessories; $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5.

Advance tickets for games and food are $0.20 and will be available in the SJS main office on Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19; tickets purchased on March 20 will be $0.25.

Please contact the school for more information; a list of sponsors can be found on its website.