Cathy Benson | The Botetourt View

Richard Moseley (from left), Ricky Boblett and Marty Rickman are part of the french fry crew every year at the Buchanan Carnival.

"We will offer Family Nights on the rides from Sunday through Thursday," he said. The cost will be $20 for rides all night and there will be coupons floating around for discounts to that price, he noted.

The annual carnival is as much a part of Buchanan as the James River for most people who live in the area. Bright lights create a genuine glow from afar, carnival rides, food, games and music: a real combo of entertainment for young and old alike.

"The Fireman's Carnival has been going on for at least 65 years," said Rickman. He has been a part of the Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department for quite some time himself, and every year is already on the preparation for the next. They have been holding the fair every year to raise funds. Last year they raised $100,000. "This year we hope we can make a nice donation to the Botetourt Resource Center as well for all the good work they do aiding the elderly," he pointed out.

You will most likely find Rickman in the French fry stand surrounded by other fellows peeling potatoes and frying them and others dishing them up. It's a place he has seen quite a bit this spring as the Fire Department has opened up the food stands for events such as the lawn tractor pull and car show, Relay for Life and most recently, for the Rec Department's fishing carnival.

The three food stands will be managed by Gene Arbogast this year, he said. "Longtime helper Henry Bryant passed away since last summer and we will really miss him," Rickman said solemnly.

For those who do not know, the three food places include the ever-popular French fry stand. "I hate to raise the prices, but the price of cooking oil has tripled since this time last year," said Rickman. "We are going to have to go to $2 but we'll make it a good serving," he said with a chuckle. The fries are a real hit with the crowd every year -- served piping hot and heaping full, with salt and vinegar for the longtime connoisseur and with ketchup for the more recent fans.

The second food stand contains the famous hamburger with chili, mustard and onions that impresses the palate as well as the standard hot dog with the works. Sometimes the Buchanan friendly Petros, a combo of chili, cheese, sour cream and Fritos, are available as well. In the third stand, volunteers dip-up ice cream and very often Ray Sloan, the local funeral director and a volunteer fireman, is in the stand happily serving cold treats.

Funnel cakes are available from a Salem vendor and other carnival staples such as candy apples and cotton candy are around the grounds. "We really have a lot of volunteers from the community including church groups, civic groups and businesses, community volunteers of all types turn out to help us."

Many volunteers run games like the "Zoo dip" and the nickel pitch, and every parent has had at least one goldfish from the ping pong toss come home with them.

They also have the raffle tickets they sell and plenty of musical groups coming to keep the folks who like to dance and listen happy.

He has engaged the same carnival business, "Magic Midway," for years. The lights, sounds and smiles are as representative of the carnival as the two nights of fireworks on July 4 and 5.