In Western PA, at least

For many Catholic churches in Western Pennsylvania and for volunteer fire departments as well, the summer carnival has been a mainstay of fund raising for generations, a big business that requires precision planning, attention to detail and months to organize.

But with rising costs, a shortage of volunteers and competition for people’s time, money and attention, carnival stalwarts say it’s becoming increasingly difficult to bring in the tens of thousands of dollars in revenue such an event can generate.

"In the past, a good church or fireman’s carnival — between what they did on the grounds, on their raffle and with their food — could make over $100,000 in a week’s time," said Dan Shefler of Penn Distributing, one of the area’s largest carnival suppliers. "That’s much rarer these days."

"At one point in time, we were netting $80,000 from the carnival," said Sid Haeck, business manager of St. Mary of the Mount Church on Mount Washington, where the annual carnival starts tonight and runs through Saturday. "Last year, it was between $30,000 and $35,000."