Ripley Carnival

The Ripley Carnival is a large celebration of several thousands of people set in the small village of Ripley with a population of 2,000.  Which from my research is the birth place of Eric Clapton.  Our day began with getting our float ready for the parade.  We drew on our pumpkins rather than carving them because we ran out of time and the candles would not have stayed lit in the parade.  In the picture is Leila my roommate designing one of the pumpkins.  After that we took all of our supplies to work to put the float together.  We borrowed a tractor and trailer from work and you can see the trailer empty before we started.  Leila and I made the two grave stones seen on the float this past week using boxes and paper mache it really took me back to the good old days.  Some of the trainees from the other houses made the cauldron and the broom sticks.  It was quite the float when we got it done.  We stated throwing things on the float and it really came together.  The group went with a halloween theme and it really came together with their float and the costumes. 

 We all met up and walked the half hour to Ripley as a group and found our float and float driver.  As we came in we saw the bonfire already set up just a massive pile of wood and sticks.  Also the carnival was all set up with rides and food stands.    Once we got there we had to wait forever for the parade to actually start but once it did we walked along side the float handing out candy and Wisley apples to the crowd.  We were near the end of the parade which was about 10 floats and went about five blocks small parade to our standards and by the end the crowd was overtaking us walking to the bonfire.  Right after the parade they lit the massive bonfire which burned for hours.  We walked around the carnival I got some cotton candy.  We went on a ride and then the fireworks started so we went to watch them and once they were over made our way to the bonfire we sate around it for a while and then headed back home.  It was a little chilly last night about 40 degrees but we bundled up and standing by the fire was quite nice.  It was a long cold walk in the dark but the night was so much fun it was worth it.