The big event of the year is just one week ahead. Carnival pre sale tickets are available at the Hayden Town Hall from Nancy Hinojos, Winkelman Town Hall from Gloria Ruiz and Angela Ramirez has them at the chamber office from Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at She’s Country from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and all day Friday. After the carnival begins the price at the booth is higher. There are coupons around town for bracelets for unlimited rides at $17 for Thursday and Sunday only. Presales are $15 for a mega card that is good for eight rides and a sheet of 40 tickets is $25.
Those who like to go down memory lane during Pioneer Days will remember the wonderful food and hard work that went into the food booths and the camaraderie the workers all shared. The band booth and their burros, the ROTC and their fry bread, ARC with enchiladas and tamales and the Sornorense menudo you could get at 8 a.m. and eat while watching the ball games with Fina and Tony.
The favorite food vendors are back with their familiar menus.
• Jenny and Jerry Magee: Fry bread, curly fries, funnel cakes, frozen dipped cheese cake.
• Rosalia’s: Carne asada burros; bean, red and green burros; carne asada tacos and corn cocktail.
• Ken Wiley: Chicago Chili dogs, nachos, pulled pork, pretzels, frito pie, kettle corn.
• Big Papa’s (formerly New York Sausage): Philly sandwiches, sausage, chicken, hamburgers.
• Jake’s donuts: Mini donuts, funnel cakes, cotton candy and shaved ice.
• Armando Dominguez Mexican cuisine: Gorditas, tacos, burritos, turkey legs, sausage wrap, Pico de gallo, nachos, and candy apples.
• Armando Dominguez BBQ: hamburgers, BBQ sandwiches, spareribs, sausage wrap, funnel cakes, cornbread, curley fries, and agua fresca.
• Knights of Columbus: Hamburgers, hotdogs, and bean burros.
• Texas Twister: Lemonade, Horchata and Patriot Shaved Ice.
Other booths both informational and merchandise who have applied so far are Virtual Reality Rides, First Investors Corporation, Well Armed Women, Copper Basin Sportsmen Club, Keith Tienken trinkets, and Smuggler trinkets.
The crowning of the Queens will take place at the bandstand in the middle of the carnival midway on Thursday, March 12 and immediately following is the drawing for the cash awards from the tickets that the queen contestants have been selling.
On Friday, March 13 at the Cul de Sac at the end of the food vendor row, Olivia Fernandez will open for the Cardells at 5:30 p.m. Doug and Shay Cardell have been performing at chamber events for several years and have an interesting history since their music sounds like a full orchestra. They performed as SKY in the 70’s and have performed with many other musicians over the years. To make the orchestra affect they record the backing track with Shay playing flute, violin, bass and drums and Doug plays harmonica. In addition to guitar and keyboard they also include 12 string guitars, steel guitars or even banjos. They use a computer to play back the recorded backing tracks and to control the mixing board. So when you listen to the Cardell’s what you are hearing are the Cardells. Both have been instructors at the CAC Aravaipa campus and make their home at Aravaipa. Their key phrase is you are never old if you rock and roll.
Anyone interested in providing entertainment Saturday can contact Adam Perlman at the Ray Credit Union. The Bandstand or the Cul de Sac are available from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
See you at Pioneer Park on March 12-15.