Gather your family and friends for a weekend of thrills as the Joe Persechini Charity Midway returns to Newmarket, this year at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex.
Campbell Amusement will host the carnival that opens today at 4 p.m. and will run until May 12. Tickets can be purchased at the gates.
Proceeds from the event will support Easter Seals and Southlake Regional Health Centre. Easter Seals is a registered charitable organization that supports children and youth with physical disabilities.
“The Campbell Amusements family has been generously supporting the run that takes place at the end of May in Newmarket for a number of years now and, we’re fortunate to have their generous support, with proceeds going to help support kids with physical disabilities through Easter Seals,” said Kevin Collins, president and CEO of Easter Seals.
The charity funds essential mobility and accessibility equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, and lifts, provides two fully accessible summer camps, an ambassador program to develop leadership and public speaking skills, and more. It currently has 5,000 clients.
“The whole idea is to make the province and communities as inclusive and accessible as possible,” said Collins.
Visitors can expect new and exciting features this year.
“We do have a brand new ride that Newmarket has not seen yet called the Fury,” said Sonya Dolan, Campbell Amusements assistant manager. “Every couple of years, we try to get in a new ride. It is a high-speed thrill ride. It has a top speed of 20 rpm while the carts rotate at a speed of 26 rpm, whirling the riders through the air in a circular motion.”
Campbell Amusements has been providing family entertainment for over 55 years. With more than 45 carnival rides and countless midway games, Campbell Amusements travels throughout Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada to bring fun and excitement to communities big and small.
“There has been a lot of planning,” said Dolan. “Our owner is very good at laying out lots. Things are going very smoothly.”
The carnival is stationed at the recreation complex at 100 Eagle Street W. It will feature rides such as zero gravity, vertigo, a gondola wheel, scooter bumper cars, and more, and many food stands.
“There is a french fry trailer, a funnel cake trailer, and a cotton candy trailer,” said Dolan.
The midway is York Region’s longest-running fundraiser for children and youth with physical disabilities.
You can also support Easter Seals by taking part in the annual National Accessibility Week kickoff. The run/walkathon has raised $5,115 out of a goal of $20,000. It will feature a five and 10 kilometres run and a five and 10 kilometres walk at the Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons on May 26.
