Water carnival needs promotion

One of Burbank’s best kept secrets, the McCambridge Pool Water Carnival, seems to have gotten even quieter this year. This wonderful family event takes place annually in August. There are carnival games, face painting, a reptile booth, arts and crafts, contests both in and out of the pool broken down by age group, prizes and a raffle. We purchased tickets for four at the mere cost of $12, and the raffle tickets were free upon admission to the carnival.

Sadly, attendance was at an all-time low this year, probably due to a lack of public awareness about this great opportunity to come out and show community support while enjoying three hours of family togetherness. The Water Carnival was apparently promoted only by word of mouth. No signs were placed upstairs at the Recreation Center, nor at the pool entrance or locker rooms, and not at Verdugo Park Pool or Recreation Center either. Banners depicting the themes of past Water Carnivals were put up only three days before the carnival took place.

I am happy for the handful of families who knew about the Water Carnival and were able to participate in all the fun. Hopefully in the years to come, the McCambridge Pool Water Carnival will be more widely promoted, and instead of remaining a secret, it will become the well attended community event it deserves to be.

Terri Daou
Burbank