(4/24) This season, some organizations are ready to go forward with their annual community fundraisers, others are holding a collective breath.

For the past twelve years, the lead stories in the Emmitsburg News-Journal’s May editions have always been announcements of the year’s annual carnivals throughout the community held on various dates.

However, as it’s been for the last couple years with the COVID-19 restrictions in place, annual carnivals are falling by the wayside. Typically, Mother Seton School has begun the carnival season, but chose to cancel their event this year out of an abundance of caution of COVID-19, according to Terry Smith, school administrative assistant and carnival chairperson.

Instead, the Thurmont Ambulance Company will kick off the annual carnival season May 31 through June 4 at the Thurmont Event Complex. Instead of temporary tents for vendors, permanent outdoor structures have now been installed to better accommodate festival needs. Graceham Volunteer Fire Department will also have its own booth at the carnival.

On the heels of Thurmont comes the Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company, June 13 through June 18, which will be followed by Thurmont Guardian Hose Company’s, June 20 through June 25. The Company’s Firemen’s Parade will be June 23.

The hugely popular Harney Fire Department Carnival will be held June 22 through June 25. In years past, the department’s carnival traditionally ran an entire week, but cutting back to four days of festivities has been easier on the volunteer team. "Things went very well last year with three days, so we decided to extend it to four days this year. We are hoping for another good turnout," department representative Sam Perry said.

The Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company Annual Carnival will be held from July 4 through July 9. The carnival's famous gigantic fireworks show will be held Friday, July 8. Cancelled in 2020, the department only had six weeks to get the 2021 carnival fundraiser up and running after a decision was made for it to be held, "However it turned out to be our biggest carnival week ever," department chairman Vaughn Zimmerman said.

"We believe that our community loves our Carnival and looks forward to it each year," With plenty of free parking, free admission, and band entertainment each night, "Everything will be about the same as last year. We don't mess with success," Zimmerman said.

South Mountain Fair, which historically closes out the carnival season, will return in full force in time to celebrate its centennial anniversary this season. Kicking off July 26 through July 30, patrons can expect a new breath of enthusiasm this year with five days of festivities.

The Fair was cancelled in 2020 and held in 2021, albeit with an abundance of caution and considerably less fervor, according to coordinator Joanne Irvin. "I don't think most people realize how much work and how many hours goes into preparing for the Fair and the work doesn't end on the last day of the Fair either. We work at it all year. There is always something that needs to be repaired or painted or mowed or cleaned. The average person doesn't see all of those things, but they all need to be taken care of throughout the year and not just Fair week. In 2020 when the Fair and all of our other rentals were cancelled, those things still had to be done. The grounds had to be mowed. We still had to pay the electric and phone bills even without any income," she said.

Now the organizers are ready to put on a 100th anniversary worthy of South Mountain. ", This year is going much smoother I think, and we are excited to celebrate our 100th year. It wasn't a happy time, but we made it through it and I'm glad we did. Maybe that's why we're looking forward to celebrating our 100th year. We made it," Irvin said.