Alliance Community Guide
park is the central location for many of the festival’s events, including Days in the Park, a three-day event that features booths by local organizations, crafters and food vendors. A balloon lift off, which brings dozens of hot air ballooners to Alliance, departs from Silver Park during the festival. Several local bands and musical groups energize the bandstand and generate a crowd of dancers. The Alliance Symphony Orchestra performs in the evenings at Days in the Park, and a pet show allows Alliance’s youth to parade their critters. Another popular portion of the Carnation Festival is the Rib Fest, a gathering of many rib vendors from far and wide who sell countless rib varieties to foodies in the parking lot of Carnation City Mall. Local bands perform and children’s booths are set up. Perhaps the crowning jewel of the Carnation Festival, the annual Queen’s Pageant is held on the first Sunday of the festival. Dozens of local young women vie for the title of Carnation queen, an honor that grants them VIP access to all of the festival’s events, several hundred of dollars’ worth of prizes, and the honor of representing the Carnation City. Locals participate in contests during the weeks of the Carnation Festival, including an amateur photography contest, a flower show, a youth sports event and a vintage base ball tournament, where the Alliance Crossing Rails compete against other Vintage Base Ball teams at Glamorgan Castle. Babies born at Alliance Community Hospital during the days of the festival are dubbed Carnation Babies and are given gift bags filled with gifts. Other events, ranging from parades and ice cream socials to a Pump-In and Muster are popular. Visits to some of Alliance’s most unique landmarks, ranging from Glamorgan Castle and Alliance City Cemetery, or hours sifting through various used books at Rodman Public Library’s annual sale are also Carnation Festival favorites. The Greater Alliance Area Carnation Festival has something for everyone, kids and adults, sports fans and art connoisseurs. Yearly festivities are planned by the Festival Board, which consists of community members serving
in various positions. Each year the festival board president, vice presidents and board members oversee and help to organize events. For more information, visit www.carnationfestival. com or call the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce at 330-823-6260. n
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Celebrating our wonderful community since 1960 “We would like to thank our loyal patrons for continuing to support and cherish the Carnation City.”
- Greater Alliance Carnation Festival Board
Alliance COMMUNITY GUIDE • 2014-2015 17