The 2024 Mountville Days Carnival will take place on Wednesday to Saturday, May 15 through 18, at Froelich Park, 350 W. Main St., Mountville. On Wednesday and Thursday, the carnival will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday's and Saturday's festivities will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Mountville Fire Company No. 1.

The annual summer celebration will feature a variety of attractions, including food trucks, carnival games, amusement park rides and other family-friendly activities. Wristbands that include unlimited rides may be purchased on Wednesday and Thursday evenings; Friday's and Saturday's attendees must purchase tickets to ride the attractions.

The Mountville Days Carnival has steadily grown since it returned in 2021 following the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. In lieu of the 2020 carnival, a group of local firefighters and carnival organizers held a food truck drive-through fundraiser. The variation of the annual event was successful, and the carnival committee's leadership has continued to add new elements every year since. In recent years, the carnival has introduced additional vendors, new rides and various forms of entertainment. Mountville Fire Company's public information officer, Peter Taraborelli, said he hopes to make this year's carnival the biggest celebration to date.

"The year we pivoted to a food truck drive-through was fabulous; it went really well," said Taraborelli, who also serves as a member of the carnival committee. "We're seeing more traffic and visitors than ever before." As the carnival has continued to grow, so has the need for volunteers and resources to operate it. This year, the carnival committee has enlisted the help of a marketing agency to help make the celebration one to remember.

The funds raised by the Mountville Days Carnival will help the Mountville Fire Company cover its general operating expenses, equipment costs and firetruck maintenance. In addition to benefiting local firefighters, a portion of the carnival's proceeds will support local nonprofits such as the Mountville Youth Athletic Association and the Mountville Lions Club. In return, the nonprofits will provide volunteers to help things run smoothly.

"The Mountville Days Carnival is unique. It's one of the first carnivals of the year, and it's how a lot of people kick off their summer," Taraborelli said. "People enjoy being able to support the fire company and local organizations in a way that's fun for their families. It's a win-win."

For more information, visit http://www.mountvillefire.com/carnival.