For about a decade, the Mahoning Valley Fire Company has been holding a one-day event they refer to as “Celebration of Community” during which varied family-oriented events are held.

Assistant Fire Chief Jay Michalik said this year’s celebration, held Saturday, “was our best one ever.”

“This is by far our best attended one, yet,” Michalik said. “It takes a village, and I’m so glad to have the support of all our neighbors and our sponsors.”

No formal attendance is taken, but the festival was packed with visitors throughout the day.

The Celebration of Community is an old-fashioned carnival. What’s special is that virtually all the activities — especially those for children — are free. These include such games as ring toss, ax ace, deadeye target shot, basket throw and candy color wheel. There were two ring tosses, one using small rings on bowling pins and the other using hula-hoops tossed over stuffed animals.

One of the bays of the fire company was emptied so children could put on fire gear, including coats and helmets. The youngsters then carried a piece of hose a short distance, dropped the hose, and used a hammer to knock wood through a trough, crawl through a huge plastic pipe, and finally squirt a hose onto a “burning building,” which was a wooden structure with pictures of fires in the windows. The children would aim the water at the simulated fire and douse it.

The participants were guided on each step by volunteer firefighters and answered questions about firefighting.

Michalik said the event is the fire department’s way of thanking the community for its support.

“Our charter members and those members who came before us showed us the fire company is more than just responding to emergencies,” Michalik said. “It’s a hub for the community to gather and celebrate our way of life. That’s what this event is.”

Fire Chief Mark Ebbert agreed, saying, “It’s our way of showing we’re thankful for all the support we get.”

Some of the events were a dozen cornhole boards set up for tournaments, a 5K race, music by DJ Layne “The Doc” Roberts, live music by the band Out of Shape, a blow-up play area and a large Chinese auction.

Food was available. The Carbon County 4-H Club had a stand selling homemade waffles with ice cream.

Various arts and crafts stands were on the premises.

All the fire apparatus was on display and available for youngsters to check out, including an antique truck with an old-fashioned bell, that preceded today’s sirens.

Michalik assured that already planning will begin for next year’s Celebration of Community.

He said, “We’ll keep doing this as long as the people come out.”