The Boothbay Region Elementary School gym got “carnival-ized” Wednesday night, with fun games, snacks and more to raise money for the BRES 8th grade end-of-the-school-year trip.

“It was a great success,” said organizer Krystle Hodgdon. “I couldn’t have done it without the eighth graders and their families. (I am) so thankful for the community to come out and show their support.”

After game tickets were sold at the gym doors, kids and their families took part in the 15 carnival games, “everything from the traditional balloon pop, Plinko, ring toss to face painting and tattooing,” said Hodgdon. The games were separated with colorful flags as eighth graders helped run the games. Parents and eighth graders were in charge of food concessions which included cotton candy, Coastal Maine Popcorn and more.

The event also featured a raffle with great prizes. The first prize of Red Sox tickets was won by Giselle Armstrong. Second prize of a two-night stay and gift cards from local businesses was won by Wendy Rego. Third prize of two bicycles and stuff for kids was won by Sarah Hodgdon.

Another popular feature was Mr. Drew and His Animals Too.

“We had 149 people buy tickets to view Mr. Drew’s 10 exotic animals and holding snakes or draping them around their necks,” said Hodgdon.

Outside the school, everyone was invited to view a Boothbay Region Ambulance Service ambulance, a Boothbay Harbor fire truck, a race car, motorcycle, and a Hawke Motors tow truck or buy a Darling’s ice cream from its truck.

Katrina Dunsmore, another organizer, said the eighth graders came up with some great carnival games and prizes and the PTO Family Night Book Fair was busy.

“It was one of the biggest events I’ve seen in the past 12 years of helping with school events (PTO, and 8th grade trip fundraisers) aside from Set for Success. It was great seeing these kids work together for a common goal,” said Dunsmore in a Facebook post.