The Grand Junction Lions Club was chartered in October of 1921 and immediately began raising money to help out various projects and organizations for the betterment of our community, including the early Grand Junction Junior College (now Colorado Mesa University).
The Grand Junction Lions Club still holds its annual Carnival and Parade (which first started in 1929) as its sole fundraiser and has given back more than $4,000,000 back to the local community. The first carnival was organized and promoted by B.M. Benge and Orlo Williams and netted $300.
During the first carnival, there was dancing, beer, prizes, groceries, and cakes. There were also sideshows, a beauty contest and a roulette wheel. A vaudeville-like musical comedy was held at the Avalon Theater, with members dressed in drag.
Later carnivals were held inside the Lincoln Park Barn. When the number of attendees grew so much that the carnival no longer fit inside the barn, the Lions Club moved their event to the newly constructed Two Rivers Plaza. According to Al Look, the 1981 carnival raised $100,600 for the Lions Club and their various causes.
