Leader Dog Carnival Returns This Week to Rochester Hills

Carnival rides and midway games will return this week to Rochester Hills.

The Rochester Hills Lions Club's Leader Dog Carnival opens Thursday at the Kmart parking lot at Avon and Rochester roads in Rochester Hills for its 36th year and runs through May 12.

Walter Kulesza of the Rochester Hills Lions Club says his group is "the little Lions Club that roars," at just 16 members strong, yet ranking among the top national chapters in fundraising for leader dog schools.

Those donations come in large part from the Lions Club's annual carnival, the proceeds of which primarily benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind, also located in Rochester Hills. Kulesza said the group also benefits other eyesight-related charities.

The Rochester Hills chapter's annual carnival has earned honors in the past for its large contributions to leader dog charities. Kulesza said the local chapter is the fifth-highest donor statewide to such charities and among the top 20 worldwide. 

"Our little club of 16 members is one of the top national contributors because of carnival activities," Kulesza said. 

The carnival will feature an assortment of rides and activities for various age groups, including a stunning, LED-lit ferris wheel.

The spring carnival begins May 2. The hours of operation are as follows:

• Monday-Thursday 4-10:30 p.m.
• Friday – 4-11 p.m.
• Saturday – Noon-11 p.m.
• Sunday – 1-11 p.m.