photo by Tim Engstrom

Augustin Yebra of Albert Lea takes photos of his daughters, Celina, 7, and Carla, 5, as they ride the Ferris wheel at Merriam’s Midway on the Fourth of July.

A lot of bang for the buck

Albert Lea offers downtown carnival and fireworks display

By Tim Engstrom | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Monday, July 6, 2009

When five boys from the Albert Lea Knights Baseball organization came to the downtown carnival on the Fourth of July, they went straight to one attraction: guess the speed of the pitch.

Eight-year-old Isaac Moyer told game operator Andy Barrera what speed he thought he would throw the baseball, then Moyer threw it. But the kid was one mile per hour off. Asked about his pitching skills, Moyer said he isn’t the best in his family but “I am one of the best in the family.”

His brother, 11-year-old Sam, took a crack at it. Also at the game were the Witham boys: Ben, 9, Joey, 8, and Sammy, 6.

Nearby, Augustin Yebra watched his daughters — Celina, 7, and Carla, 5 — ride the Ferris wheel. He said having the carnival at the downtown parking lot was a good idea.

It was the first year for a carnival during the Fourth of July Celebration in Albert Lea, and the site was packed on Saturday night as people prepared for the fireworks display. Merriam’s Midway Carnival was at the North Broadway Avenue parking lot Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There was no admission fee.

Alex and Natasha Kornilov of Schroder Concessions said customers were arriving steadily on Friday until it rained following the Third of July Parade. Once it rained, there were no customers. On Saturday, customers were light all day, they said, up until shortly before the fireworks display, when the activity picked up strongly.

Merriam’s Midway Carnival returns to Albert Lea for the Freeborn County Fair in August.

Anthony Cincoski, 10, couldn’t get enough of the pop guns. He shot them once Friday and twice Saturday — according to a Saturday night interview. Who knows? He might have returned Sunday. Why does he like it?

“Because I am good at it,” he said.

Rain at 6 p.m. created a few worries over whether the weather would impact the fireworks display, but the storm passed through to go bother some other town. The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce puts on the fireworks display every year, and its director, Randy Kehr, said the fireworks shooters can go ahead with a display as long as it isn’t raining at the time of the display.

“We looked on the radar and there’s not much after this isolated cell,” he said.

The crowds turned out on Saturday night. If anyone ever doubted there is diversity in Albert Lea, they needed only to be at Fountain Lake Park or the North Broadway Avenue parking lot.

Rita and Jack Korman, who live south of Alden, come to Albert Lea every year for the fireworks display and stake out just about the same spot at Fountain Lake Park each time. They and their family members — who gather each Independence Day weekend — could be found right up along the shore each July 4 for more than 20 years.

They said they like the variety and the finale of the Albert Lea fireworks display. They like the patriotic music played by the Albert Lea Community Band and this year enjoy having the carnival present, they said.

Apparently, finding the same location is important.

Take Laura Gaudian. The 18-year-old could be found playing cards on a blanket. Asked why she likes watching the fireworks from Fountain Lake Park, she said, “Because every year I come to the same spot and play with my family.”

Rita Korman approved of this year’s fireworks display.

“It was a perfect way to celebrate our country’s birthday,” she said.

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