'Best Place in the World to be on Fourth of July': Urbandale Carnival

Lions Park was filled with rides, food, games, music and the aroma of fried foods as Urbandale's Fourth of July carnival kicked off the holiday.

Drew Rubenking, 12, of Urbandale played a game where the goal was to lift a bottle with a stick and a string attached. He won an enormous pig. 

"It was hard and I had to be really steady," Drew said. "I won on the last try."

Others, such as Titus Kinyen, 16, of Urbandale, were not so lucky.

"I love that bottle game," Titus said. "But I couldn't win, I spent $5 and still didn't win."

Different groups from Urbandale were at the carnival raising money. 

Members of the Leo Club of Urbandale High School, a club similar to the Lions Club, were on hand to raise funds. 

Kylie Bradley, a Leo Club member, was helping with a game. 

"It's always fun helping the little kids pick a fish and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they win a prize," Bradley said. 

Also manning a booth was the Urbandale High School Choir, whose members are selling cookies to raise money for their trip to Los Angeles next spring. One of the choir members on hand was Annie Rood, who said she enjoyed being in Urbandale during the holiday.

"Urbandale is the best place in the world to be on Fourth of July," Rood said. 

The carnival will re-open at noon Thursday in Lions Park. In addition to the carnival, the parade will start at 10 a.m. Thursday by the old city hall and proceed north on 70th to Aurora.

The finale is the fireworks display that begins at 10 p.m. Thursday in Walker Johnston Park.