No fireman's carnival for Penn Yan

PENN YAN--Penn Yan Fire Chief Mike Clancy said the annual August Penn Yan parade and carnival will not be held this year due to several issues. Clancy noted along with construction eliminating the carnival parking areas, delays in planning and declining economic viability have led to the cancellation of this year's events.
"We basically lost both parking fields we have been privileged to use in the past," Fire Chief Mike Clancy said.
Clancy said while they would possibly have the space to put on the carnival, not having enough room on the field for parking would make it harder to manage. He noted there would not be any event to replace these events this year, adding they were unable to get things together in time in order to have the parade.
"One of the challenges we have is it takes a lot of work to get those events started and going," Clancy said. "The decision was made a little late in the fall about not having the carnival, and subsequently trying to do the parade alone -- which we have done before. We had a challenge in getting our ducks in a row and getting an event chairman set up quick enough, so it just didn't happen."
Clancy added the department would like to have a parade next year if possible, but added the department needs to explore other possible locations for the fair. He said other than the fairgrounds, there is not really a space big enough to have the rides and parking. Clancy said next year if they had the fair at the carnival grounds, it would disturb the hotel guests.
"Over time the popularity of the carnival economically for us has continued to decline," Clancy said. "We have always had great support from the community with sponsorships, in-kind services and donations. [...] It is not for a lack of community support. It comes down to combination of space, parking, and quite frankly the economics of it."

This story was updated Wednesday, Aug. 5. An incorrect version that did not appear in the printed paper was originally posted.