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The Jefferson Ruritan Club Carnival began Monday, with food, games and musical entertainment.

The carnival started in 1957, back when the carnival grounds were located at the intersection of Lander Road and Jefferson Pike. Currently, that land is home to a PNC Bank branch. The current grounds are at the intersection of Lander Road and U.S. Route 340.

Despite changing locations, the carnival is still a time when the Jefferson community comes together. Many residents come out for the ham, which is cured by the Ruritan Club during its two annual pig butchering events. The group serves 3,600 meals during carnival week in the sit-down area of the community building, as well as sandwiches and other smaller entrees at the outdoor food area.

While this carnival is not as large as some other Frederick County carnivals, the smaller size makes the carnival more appealing to families, according to Larry Putman, treasurer of the Ruritan Club.

"A lot of families bring their kids because it's smaller and everything's close together," he said.

Funds raised during carnival week fund scholarships and pay the electric bill for town's streetlights. Larry Cassell, secretary of the club, said the lights were installed years ago as an agreement with Allegheny Power and the club has taken over payments on the bills. The club also donates money to Boy Scout troops as well as other community events and activities.

"We always try to beat last year's fundraising," said Cassell, who declined to give a specific amount. "It's been good the last few years; we've beaten the year before. It's our biggest fundraiser."

The club also allows other community groups to raise money at the carnival. Instead of running the games themselves, the Ruritan Club allows local nonprofit groups to run booths and keep any profits.

"We don't charge them rent," Cassell said, adding that it was easier for the club to open the carnival to groups than field donation requests. "We'll support them in that way. We used to do the games, [but] we figured we'd donate to them anyway."

The Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company had four booths set up: a dime pitch, a soda ring toss, turtle races and a gun raffle. Tommy Lakin, deputy chief of the company, said proceeds from the dime pitch go to fund the cadet program, and pay for various trips and activities. He said the carnival booths bring in a good amount of money for the company.

No matter what brings the community out – be it games, food or music, the carnival is a good place for community gathering. Edna Huffer, a Jefferson resident who said she'd been coming to the carnival "for a long time," was listening to The Shades warm up on Monday night. She said she likes coming to the carnival as a way to reconnect with the community, and that she enjoys eating in the air-conditioned food area.

"It's great to come to the carnival, seeing the people and eating the food," she said. "We like the food up here in the building. My husband always said, ‘Anything in Jefferson would bring people out.' It's just a regular thing to come to it. I come to see hometown people."

E-mail Tripp Laino at tlaino@gazette.net.

Jefferson Ruritan Carnival

-Through Saturday at Ruritan Center grounds at the intersection of Lander Road and U.S. Route 340.

-Food sales begin at 5 p.m., platters are $8.50 for adults and $4.50 for children with sides served buffet style

-Rides open at 7 p.m.

-Free parking, admission and musical entertainment

-www.jeffersonmd.net/ruritan