L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival — Garden State Plaza

L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival is underway at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, with organizers saying the event opened on Thursday, May 21, and will run through Sunday, June 7. The carnival is being presented by L.E.A.D. Fest, the events arm of L.E.A.D. Inc., and features rides, games and food at the mall at 1 Garden State Plaza Parkway. The event is operating this Memorial Day weekend, with weekend and holiday hours listed as 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Organizers said proceeds support L.E.A.D.'s drug- and violence-prevention work. ### When is the Paramus carnival open this weekend? Saturday, May 23, falls within the event's opening stretch, and the carnival is scheduled to be open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends and the Memorial Day holiday, according to organizers. Weekday hours are listed as 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. (news.jgpr.net) The Paramus event began on May 21 and is slated to continue through June 7, not just through Memorial Day weekend. Organizers said the carnival will be closed on May 26, June 1 and June 2. ### Where exactly is it being held at Garden State Plaza? (news.jgpr.net) Westfield Garden State Plaza is the host site, and organizers list the address as 1 Garden State Plaza Parkway, Paramus, New Jersey 07652. The L.E.A.D. Fest website identifies the stop as "L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival: Paramus, NJ" at Westfield Garden State Plaza. (news.jgpr.net) The L.E.A.D. Fest homepage describes the Paramus event as a family carnival with food, rides and games. Third-party event listings published this week also describe the Paramus stop as a multi-day carnival at the mall. ### How much does it cost, and are there rules for families? Carnival admission is $5, and children under 36 inches are admitted free, according to a May 22 release about the Paramus event. (news.jgpr.net) The same release said discounted ride tickets and passes are available online through the event's ticketing page. (theleadfest.com) Any child under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult after 8 p.m., organizers said. The event also bars backpacks and face coverings, with religious exemptions provided, according to the release. ### Who is running the rides and where does the money go? (news.jgpr.net) Reithoffer Shows Inc. is operating the carnival rides and games in Paramus, according to organizers. The L.E.A.D. Fest website says the larger L.E.A.D. Fest program brings rides, food, shows and games to communities around the country through events tied to L.E.A.D. Inc. (news.jgpr.net) Nick DeMauro, executive director and chief executive of L.E.A.D., said in the release that money raised supports law-enforcement officers who teach the group's prevention curriculum. Capt. James Teehan of the Paramus Police Department said the event helps support school prevention work while giving officers a chance to interact with the community. (news.jgpr.net) ### What is L.E.A.D., and what do organizers say the event supports? L.E.A.D. Fest is the community-events brand of L.E.A.D. Inc., which the organization's website describes as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The group says it delivers evidence-based drug- and violence-prevention programs in local communities. The May 22 event release said the organization's school-based prevention education is taught by law-enforcement officers and built on the Botvin LifeSkills Training curriculum. (news.jgpr.net) Organizers said the Paramus carnival's proceeds benefit that prevention mission. (theleadfest.com) Sunday, June 7, is the scheduled final day of the Paramus run, according to the event page and the organizer's release. Tickets, operating hours and any updates are posted through the L.E.A.D. Fest event page for Paramus. (leadfest.saffire.com) (news.jgpr.net)