The week-long event always brings rain to Walpole, no matter how nice the early part of the spring is.

But Mother Nature turned it up a notch this year; she not only brought rain to the first half of the week, she concocted a doozey of a Nor’easter that soaked the East Coast and prevented the carnival from opening Monday on Stone Field (behind Town Hall).

The puddles were like ponds, and the mud ankle deep.

It was so rainy and raw Sunday that the workers had to halt setting up the carnival and resume Monday afternoon, according to Harold Fera, owner of Rhode Island-based Rockwell Amusements.

But American Legion Baseball representative Ralph White says rain is inevitable this time of year.

"We’ve found that it rains every week in April," he said, "and it’s not because of the carnival."

White said he and fellow organizer Rich McCarthy of the Babe Ruth League anticipate losing a day or two of revenue to rain each year. This year presented new problems, White said, with the lousy weather arriving earlier than usual – at the time of set-up on Sunday.

Proceeds from the carnival go toward youth activities in town, such as the two baseball leagues, the Student Trooper Program, and Boys’ and Girls’ State (the study of government).

White noted that the carnival business is competitive; he and McCarthy are approached by other vendors who try to offer a better deal than Rockwell. But White said he and McCarthy are happy with who they have.

"Rockwell is a reputable outfit," White said.

No matter how many challenges his crews face, Fera said, "there’s no substitute for safety."

He said he closed his carnival in Worcester – the first venue of the season – early on Saturday in order to get a head start on the Walpole set-up. But the weather failed to cooperate on Sunday.

"We gave our best to try to be ready," Fera said.

When it comes to making operational decisions based on the weather, he said, it takes more than just listening to the forecast.

"You have to be there to stay on top of things," he said.

Fera said he tends to keep the carnival open when it’s drizzling because it usually doesn’t last and the sun oftentimes comes out.

He also noted that the rides are made to withstand certain weather conditions.

The carnival continues through Saturday night. The hours are from 2 to 10 p.m. today and tomorrow, and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday.