TOP PHOTO: Elephants will fly in La Follette again this afternoon behind the police station.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The Great American Carnival is in town and is ready for you to ride come 5pm.

Rides began coming into town on Sunday to the parking lot behind the police station. The 16 crew members arrived on Monday as some set up began with the full set up coming together Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s opening day.

Great American Carnival is based out of Madisonville, Kentucky, and was here back in May for the annual Lions Club fundraiser. “We were in Whitley City, Kentucky, last week, and our next scheduled show is at Pineville, Kentucky. Most of our stops are here in Tennessee and Kentucky with one coming in Indiana and another at Mississippi later this year,” said Denise Lundien, the carnival’s manager.

Great American Carnival is family owned and operated.

Lundien says they’ll have 15 rides in all. All are here and being set up except for the Ferris wheel. “It’s on its way. That’s our last piece to all of this,” added Lundien.

This is a fourth generation carnival though the name has changed some as its been handed down through the Maturo family. “Greg and Edwina Maturo are our owners,” she adds.

The Great American Carnival is all a part of La Follette’s 125th celebration and arrived a little early of its planned Saturday show. Hours for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are from 5pm to 11pm. Single tickets are on sale or 30 tickets for $30. An unlimited rides wrist band is also available.

Crews are expected to wrap up their set up before the day is out.

All rides are free on Saturday from noon to 6pm as La Follette celebrates its anniversary according to Lundien. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/07/2022-6AM)