The sky was just turning dark Friday night while Brookhaven’sAlicia Williams sat on a bench at the inaugural Lincoln CountyCarnival, peering into a stroller and doting on her youngestgrandchild while the older two ran amuck amidst the bright lightsand fast rides.

Jackson Leggett, 5, and Sidda Stephenson, 4, had managed toride, play and eat through about $130 in less than two hours, butgrandma didn’t mind.

“My grandchildren are loving it,” Williams said. “I haven’t beento a carnival in about 20 years. It’s better than I remember.”

With clear, breezy weather, the workweek over and area baseballgames on temporary hiatus, hordes of children, parents andgrandparents poured into the carnival Friday night to make up forwhat was a slow start on opening night Thursday. The crowd showedno signs of thinning out as late as 10 p.m., as the amount ofvehicles had overflowed the parking available at the Lincoln CivicCenter and stretched down the sides of Beltline Drive.

North American Midway Entertainment Concessions Manager PatrickHadley described the carnival’s turnout as “tremendous.” As far asattendance is concerned, his company wasn’t quite sure what toexpect from Southwest Mississippi. NAME had never been to LincolnCounty, and the carnival site is far removed from more visibleareas in Brookhaven.

“We were concerned with the location because you’re not going toaccidentally see it unless you come out here. But I’m very pleasedwith the turnout,” Hadley said. “Obviously advertisement and wordof mouth has worked well, and it tells me there’s lots of potentialhere.”

Those enjoying the carnival Friday night saw the same potential,and almost everyone expressed their desire to see the carnivalreturn in 2011.

“I think this is fine and I hope they continue it,” said LoydStar’s Lori Smith. “It’s got plenty of room, it’s comfy and youdon’t have to walk too far.”

Lincoln Civic Center Manager Quinn Jordan said NAME and thecounty are already coming to an agreement for shows in the future.Inviting the carnival to town this year is the first step in a planto eventually create an annual, old-timey county fair.

“All indications are that NAME is excited about a long-termrelationship here in Lincoln County and Southwest Mississippi. Markyour calendars in 2011 for another fun-filled event just like this,or even better,” Jordan said.

Jordan said next year’s carnival, festival or fair would againbe scheduled for early May, but the daily times of operation may bepushed back later.

“I think it’s a little early at 4:30 p.m. for people trying toget off work and make it out here, and it’s a little warm, too,” hesaid.

Other than the afternoon heat and the high cost of carnivalfood, few complaints were lodged about the event fromcarnival-goers Friday night. Most agreed – “don’t change athing.”

“It’s family-oriented, a good atmosphere,” said Wesson’s JoyTraxler. “I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like, but it’s beenreally nice. The kids are having fun.”

Loyd Star’s Julie Case brought her 12-year-old neice, MadisonCase, and her friend Megan Vanover, 12, to the carnival afterchecking it out from the nearby Hansel King Sportsplex. It wasworth the trip.

“We thought we’d check it, and we’re having fun. We like thevariety of races. We’ve rode it all,” Case said.