Carnival rides at a school fundraiser event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were the recent targets of destructive vandalism. The WestFest carnival at John Ball Park, an event that has been bring joy to the community for a decade, found its festivities marred by senseless acts of sabotage. According to a statement obtained by WZZM 13, unidentified vandals ripped out the operating wires and control boxes of the Top Gun and the Super Nova 360 rides late on Friday night, rendering these attractions inoperable just before the weekend's peak hours.
The police are now investigating the incident, as the community is called upon to aid in tracking down those responsible. In a desperate hope to salvage the event, Amber Hiske, Director of Strategic Advancement at Sacred Heart Academy, told FOX 17, "We are hoping that the control boxes are returned so the rides can continue this evening." Despite the setbacks, the event continued, with carnival staff swiftly confirming that all remaining rides had been thoroughly checked and were safe for festival-goers to enjoy.
WestFest, the cornerstone fundraiser for Sacred Heart Academy, now faces an uphill battle to meet its financial goals—a plight compounded by unusually fair weather, which had promised to draw large crowds. Hiske expressed her disappointment to WZZM 13, lamenting, "We don’t often get great weather for WestFest, so this is especially disappointing for us from a fundraising standpoint."
Attendees, however, can still look forward to enjoying the array of games, concessions, and rides presented by Skerbeck Entertainment in the park's vast green space. The carnival, detailed in a recent post on WestFest GR's Facebook page, emphasizes its role as a school fundraiser and dissociates from John Ball Zoo or the City of Grand Rapids, urging the public to continue their support. The remainder of the carnival is scheduled to run until 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, with single-day wristband vouchers available for purchase on-site.
Authorities, along with the school and carnival organizers, are urging anyone with information regarding the malicious vandalism to step forward and contact the Grand Rapids Police Department.
