By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ALLEGANY — The Allegany Fire Department announced Tuesday that Allegany Old Home Week would return this June for a four-day run from June 24-27.
Last year’s carnival was canceled because the fire department could not get a carnival company with sufficient rides. A Community Day was held instead in August.
Old Home Week carnival and parades were canceled from 2020 to 2022 due to Covid 19 and other concerns. The 2023 and 2024 Old Home Days were scaled back.
In coming years, the fire department hopes to extend Old Home Week back to five days.
“It’s official! The Carnival Committee, on behalf of the Allegany Fire Department, has signed a three-year contract with Knox Great American Midway!” Gordon Scott, department spokesman, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.
“It’s always one of the highlights of the summer with parades, firemen, water fights, music, food and of course the big carnival with numerous games and rides,” Scott wrote on Facebook. Glad to see it return!”
In an interview with the Olean Star Tuesday afternoon, Scott said Franklinville-based Knox Great American Midway plans to travel with 15 rides this year, nine for teens and six for younger kids. The company plans to add one ride each year over the next two years, Scott added.
With additional rides, there shouldn’t be a bottleneck of lines for the midway, he added.
The comments to Scott’s Facebook post on the Old Home Week carnival started with “Awesome.” That is appreciated, he said.
Old Home Week will be revamped somewhat this year in an attempt to involve more members of the community and to help the declining number of members of the fire department.
“We want to get the community involved in helping us run it,” Scoptt said. “We don’t have the manpower we once did and we’re expanding the number of days for the carnival.”
Department President Deanne Crowley said she and the department were committed to hosting Old Home Week with the usual attractions.
Sports teams sponsored by the fire department will help with carnival cleanup and teachers are going to help in the cook tent, Scott said. Junior members of the fire department are collecting cans to return for deposit
A list will be going out soon for groups and individuals to sign up for different jobs, Scott said.
The Carnival Committee will also be seeking sponsors for different events.
“We’re meeting every month now to get ahead of things,” Scott said.
