VALDOSTA — Geren Rides, the family-owned, Georgia-based carnival, is back and they plan to stay awhile.
General Manager Frank Sutton said the carnival opened on Wednesday and plans to keep the rides running until shortly before Thanksgiving.
The traveling carnival business dried up in Valdosta for several years, Sutton said, because of Wild Adventures. When Geren Rides returned last spring, however, he said the response was good, despite some weather issues. The Valdosta Mall liked their operation, so they decided an encore was in order. Sutton said that for now, they plan to come to Valdosta twice a year, in spring and winter.
“We really used to excite people when we came here. Kids would come out, wanting to help set up, but they can’t do that now because of Georgia law. We try to give people a good bargain for their dollar and we offer good, clean family entertainment,” he said.
Valdosta should be a good starting and concluding point for the carnival. Geren Rides stores its rides and equipment in Dasher.
Geren Rides has been continuously operating for 67 years, he said. The carnival bills itself as the world’s finest midway, and travels to Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, in addition to Georgia. They even have a unit in Coney Island, he said, but that park is temporarily closed for renovation.
Sutton himself belongs to one of the oldest carnival families in the U.S., he said, stretching back five generations on one side and four generations on the other. His great grandfather started in the business in 1869 with a horse with two tails, and went on from there.
The Geren family added several new rides this time around, he said, including the Ring of Fire, the Gravitron, the Zipper and the Trabant. Hours of operation are Friday 5-11 p.m. or later, Saturday 5-11 p.m. or later, and Sunday 2-10 p.m. or later.
“We have a strong Kiddieland for young kids and strong major rides for the teenagers,” he said.
Other attractions include The Screaming Bullet, The Scrambler, The Cobra, Sammy’s Speedway, The Himalaya, Spin Out, The Prize Factory and The Super Slide. Concession stands offer traditional carnival fare such as Sno Kones, Hawaiian shaved ice, fresh squeezed lemonade, cotton candy, funnel cakes, sausage, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and cold drinks. Restrooms are provided for patrons.
Sutton said Geren Rides offers a lot of good discounts, like a $12 armband from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday that let’s youngsters ride as long as they like, and $3 discount coupons good Monday through Thursday. Single tickets are $1, regular armbands are $16, and patrons can buy 20 tickets for $18 or 40 tickets for $36. Tickets are good anytime, he said.
For more information, call the Valdosta Mall at 229-244-0457.
Local News
Related Photos
-
A number of games are available for all ages to play at the Geren Rides carnival in the parking lot of Valdosta Mall. Jonathan Chick
-
The Zipper is just one of the many festive rides available at the Geren Rides carnival located next to Buffalo Wild Wings in the parking lot of Valdosta Mall. Jonathan Chick
Discussion
Carnival returns to winter resting place
- Local News
-
-
Don Giovanni: VSU presents Mozart’s most famous opera
VALDOSTA — Editing Mozart isn’t for sissies.
It takes a certain knowledge, talent and sheer chutzpah to perform surgery on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alas, in our age of short-attention spans, it is a challenge which many opera productions must consider, given that many of Mozart’s originals stretched as long as four hours. -
Traffic Unit coming to Hahira
HAHIRA — The Hahira City Council voted to allow the addition of a Traffic Enforcement Unit to the Hahira Police Department at Thursday night’s regular session council meeting.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit will patrol two miles of Interstate 75 and according to Hahira Police Chief Terry Davis, has nothing to do with making money and everything to do with the safety of Hahira’s citizens. -
Life’s a Drag
Theatre Guild Valdosta unleashes some of its leading players this week to star in its newest comedy, “Leading Ladies.”
-
Driving into the Future
President John F. Kennedy once said that children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. You hear a variation of this every day, but it’s not often that you come across a teacher that whole-heartedly believes it.
-
Lowndes' Harvey-Clemons sends letter of intent to Georgia
Regarded as the state of Georgia’s best player, Lowndes’ Josh Harvey-Clemons announced Wednesday that he will be staying in-state to play college football.
-
Lowndes' grading guide stirs controversy
The Lowndes County school system has implemented a new guide to grading for students in the third through eighth grades that has caused alarm among parents in the community.
-
Giving Back: Boys and Girls Club honors volunteers
Seventeen-year-old Jacob Beverly thought he was invited to the 66th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta Tuesday night only to give a speech.
He didn't realize that he was also being honored as the recipient of the 2011 “Youth of the Year” award by the organization. -
Deer Fest coming in March as an all new adventure
When the 8th annual Deep Woods Deer Fest opens on Saturday, March 3 it will have evolved into the South Georgia OutdoorFest.
-
Hahira website manager fired
The City of Hahira terminated its website manager after a number of city council minutes went missing from the database, according to Hahira City Manager Jonathan Sumner at Monday night’s city council work session.
-
Ramona Quimby: Bringing a children’s book to life
Monday may have been the “Ramona Quimby” cast’s first time stepping on stage in costume, but they will become used to these clothes. Very used to them.
In addition to Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance’s two public performances this weekend, these student actors will wear these costumes in approximately 20 more shows. - More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
