Juggler big hit at Tri-Town Winter Carnival
By BRIAN HAYDEN
BRASHER FALLS — St. Lawrence Central elementary students might not have recognized their school if they walked in on Saturday.
Inside the gymnasium were bounce houses and a large inflatable slide. By midafternoon, the Skinny German Juggle Boy, aka Hilby or Michael Hilbig, was entertaining children in the cafeteria. He successfully juggled a plunger, hat and bowling ball in the air as a crowd of students cheered.
“Do you want to see one more? Say, ‘Ja!'” Mr. Hilbig yelled.
“Ja!” screamed the youngsters.
The fun was part of the Tri-Town Carnival's “Kid's Zone.” Save for a few years, the festival has been a mainstay in Tri-Town since the 1960s, according to carnival committee member Alaina J. Goodrich.
The event provides the children of “Tri-Town” — Brasher, population 2,512, Lawrence 1,826, and Stockholm, 3,665 — with a free outlet for physical activity and entertainment not typically available in midwinter.
“Being such a small town, without a lot of options for entertainment, we can give them something to look forward to,” Ms. Goodrich said. “They can get out and be active here rather than sitting home and playing video games. ... This is a highlight of the winter for a lot of the kids.”
It was standing-room-only at a talent show Friday night, she said. The carnival also featured Friday night fireworks and a Saturday morning parade.
Fourth-grader Patience Molella, 10, marveled at the changes to the gymnasium.
“It's cool,” she said. “We've never had a bounce house in the gym.”
The event would not be possible without the help of the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, sponsorships from area businesses and a host of volunteers, Ms. Goodrich said.
One of those volunteers, Lisa M. Warner, staffed the festival's arts and crafts station. During the week, she is an elementary school art teacher. She volunteered Saturday so the children could leave with homemade bookmarks and tissue-paper flowers.
The festival concludes today with competitions including bed races and a frying pan throwing contest. Closing ceremonies are at 5 p.m. at the Winthrop American Legion.
