Carnival another fun-filled event for all at South Fayette

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Bryce Watkins, Landon Mendenhall, and Dylan Mash react as the wheel spins during a game of chance at the South Fayette carnival. The trio was helping to raise funds for the school’s annual minithon dance event.

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Josie Adler enjoys a ride down an inflatable slide during South Fayette carnival days.

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Vivienne Hackworth and her father, Steve, admire the artistry of the face paint design and jewels affixed to her check during South Fayette carnival days.

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Brody Demetro along with his mother, Sophia, and younger brother, Giorgio, watch anxiously as the contestants in the Piggy Races near the finish line. Demetro won a prize at the game during South Fayette carnival days.

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Ana Mares tosses a frisbee in hopes of winning a prize during South Fayette carnival days. Mares is a seventh-grade student in the school district.

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Chrissy Magdich sells South Fayette merchandise to a couple during carnival days. Hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and other items featuring the school logo and mascot lion can be purchased at the high school. The store, located in the cafeteria, was founded and funded for students with special needs.

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Caraline Truair uses the ladder to get out of the water at the dunk tank. The South Fayette freshman was one of the volunteers who sat on a platform bench as spectators attempted to hit a target that would trigger the mechanism and sink her during carnival days.

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Mary Walsh and Giulianna Pindel helped chair the events for the South Fayette carnival days.

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Three of a kind was one of the games of chance featured at South Fayette carnival days. Spectators watch as three apples appear from behind the curtain.

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Dave Milsan (right) and members of the South Fayette boys’ basketball team were among the school organizations participating in carnival days.

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A maze was one of the featured attractions at South Fayette carnival days. In addition to the maze, where a girl can be seen emerging, there was a bounce house and an inflatable slide.

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South Fayette promotes its annual homecoming carnival as a “fun-for-all-ages” event.

Steve Hackworth as well as Sophia Demetro wholeheartedly endorse that statement. They attended this year’s extravaganza, which is a key fundraiser for clubs and athletic teams supported by the community, with their children.

“It’s always a good time for everybody,” said Hackworth as his daughter sat patiently for an artist to complete her face painting. “We usually play games, get some food, do the bounce houses and everything. So, we always have a great time with this.”

Demetro agreed. She brought her two young boys, Brody and Giorgio, to the 20th annual carnival.

“I like it a lot,” she said. “My kids get to play, have a little food, enjoy the rides and have fun. It’s nice.”

Part of the district’s homecoming activities, the carnival featured food trucks with dinner and dessert items, a variety of games, an obstacle course, an inflatable slide, bounce house and dunk tank. Additionally, the Little Green Machine Marching Band and high school choir performed during the four-hour event that spanned 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the high school stadium facility.

Student government in conjunction with the homecoming committee combined their efforts to pull off the carnival.

Guilianna Pindel has been involved in the event since her freshman year. A senior, who hopes to major in speech language and hearing sciences in college, she is president of student government.

“We have something really special here,” she said. “It’s really amazing.

“It’s not hard,” she said of putting on the carnival. “There are many organizations working side by side and contributing all they have.

“All I have to accomplish is to make sure people have a good time. They were able to get good food, have fun with their family and friends, and hang out doing something fun and casual.”

Mary Walsh has been involved in carnival for the last three years as a chairperson and as a homecoming chair this year. She’s been involved in reaching out to the food trucks and organizations that operate the booths and tables.

“Basically I am making sure the event runs smoothly and working with the student government’s president and vice president to see how we can best incorporate everyone and get volunteers for this event,” she explained.

“Carnival runs so smoothly,” she added, “That’s because we have the best team, the best teachers and the best board to make this a success.”

Walsh, who wants to go to medical school and become a pediatrician, knows the event is a triumph when it’s finally over and the organizers get a chance to celebrate.

“I love, at the end of the night, we always get to do one of the inflatables together, the bounce house or go down the slide with everyone. That’s always such a good memory.”

The fond memories continued long into the weekend as the football team upset No. 1 Montour in a non-conference clash on Friday and the homecoming dance was held the following day on Saturday, Sept. 12.