MEXICO — The Mexico Firefighter Relief Association is sponsoring a four-day carnival behind the Fire Department and Town Hall for the first time in nearly 30 years, fire Chief Gary Wentzell said.

The carnival, which began Thursday, will continue from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Kavanaugh Amusements, a company that runs out of Bridgewater, Mass., is responsible for setting up the rides.

The prices are $1.25 per ticket, and $16 for a bracelet that will allow access to all of the rides.

Wentzell said that in the 1970s and ’80s, the Fire Department would invite carnivals to set up behind the department and Town Hall every year but the event eventually was left by the wayside.

“It became kind of hard to set something like that up on a yearly basis,” Wentzell said. “However, this year, Kavanaugh Amusements had an off-week and was available to visit and set up for us. We sort of threw this together at the last moment. Kavanaugh Amusements called our town manager on Monday morning, and we’ve been jumping through hoops and different channels ever since to get this thing set up.”

Wentzell said “around 15 percent of the proceeds” will go to the Mexico Firefighter Relief Association.

“I’m not sure if 15 is the number we’ve settled on yet, but it’ll be something like that,” Wentzell clarified. “We’ve been trying to save up money for a rescue ATV for three years now, but those things cost between $12,000 and $14,000. Right now, we’re around the $8,000 mark.”

While Kavanaugh Association is doing a majority of the setup, Wentzell said the Fire Department has provided the company with “a garden hose to connect with their camper trailer and an extension cord to help their refrigerator run.”

“They’ve taken care of everything else,” Wentzell said. “They’re very nice people.”

mdaigle@sunjournal.com