JCC Holding Annual Purim Carnival Sunday

The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center will be holding its annual Purim Carnival Sunday to celebrate a very festive holiday.

Purim celebrates Queen Esther, who foiled the plans of the king's royal vizier, Haman, in his plot to kill all the Jews in Persia thousands of years ago. In the Jewish calendar, the holiday is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar.

The JCC is holding its biggest event of the year in the family Purim Carnival, which will be held at the center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The carnival will include an inflatable mountain climber, baseball speed pitch, pony rides, DJ, face painting, hair braiding, cotton candy, popcorn, tattoos and more.

The carnival will also feature special appearances by Somerset Patriots mascot Sparkee and the Rutgers Scarlet Knight.

The new events this year will be an Xbox tournament, car racetrack and an indoor gaga tournament, which will begin at 2:30 p.m., and is open to children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

Those wanting to participate in the gaga tournament can pre-register as a team or as an individual for $5 per person, and prizes will be awarded.

Food will include burgers, hot dogs and falafel.

Plus, Sparkee and the Rutgers Scarlett Knight will lead a costume parade beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The carnival itself is $4 per child or $3 per child with a non-perishable food donation to benefit a local food bank. Adults are free, and tickets will be on sale to play games.

For more information, or to pre-register for the tournament, call the JCC at 908-722-6994, ext. 201, or email info@ssbjcc.org.