As McGaugh Elementary School prepares for its annual carnival and silent auction this month, the Schulten Family is preparing for a celebration of their own. This year’s carnival marks the ninth anniversary of when “Ping” the goldfish joined the family.
Oliver Schulten won the pet at the carnival when he was two. He graduated from McGaugh last spring and is now an 11-year-old sixth grader at McAuliffe Middle School. Siblings Aidan, third grade, and Willow, kindergarten, attend McGaugh and weren’t even born when Ping became the family pet.
“Oliver had been trying to win a fish all day – finally he did, but he actually won two fish, Ping and Pong, named after the ping pong balls used in the booth,” said mother Jill Schulten. “Pong didn’t make it, but Ping is going strong. We will celebrate with a small family gathering, maybe with a fish cake?”
At more than 9 years old, Ping is certainly not the oldest goldfish on record, but friends and neighbors of the Schulten Family are amazed at Ping’s longevity.
The Schulten siblings plan to win a companion for Ping at the annual McGaugh Carnival, set to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Fun, food and family favorites will be at the carnival, a fundraiser sponsored by the McGaugh PTA.
The beloved Seal Beach tradition returns with more than 30 classroom booths, including the new addition of Skee-Ball and “Panning for Gold” at the McGaugh Mining Company. The perennially popular Giant Slide, Goldfish Gallery, and McGaugh’s Obstacle Course run by the staff at Total Sport Camp will also be in operation.
Visitors can munch their way through the food court, with delectable munchies from ZPizza, Chronic Taco, funnel cakes, shaved ice, Dippin’ Dots and many more. Performances are also planned throughout the day, with appearances scheduled from the Oak Middle School Show Choir, Elevation Dance Studio, Friday Night Lights cheerleaders, and other troupes.
In addition to the carnival festivities, a silent auction will be staged in the McGaugh Gym from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, October 26 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.
More than 550 items are up for bid, from amazing destination trips to Legos and from Tupperware to jewelry.
Auction shoppers can also choose the “buy-it-now” option, which allows the bidder to bypass the auction process and purchase their items in one easy step.
