Carnival Nights (U.S. 2024)

Announced by the USPS on November 3, 2023:

Carnival Nights celebrates one of America’s favorite pastimes. The stomach-twisting thrill rides, the indulgent snacks and sweets and the general spirit of lighthearted fun make the nation’s carnivals and fairs a place for visitors of any age to enjoy. Ten new stamps in a pane of 20 feature photographs that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival at night. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with existing photographs.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the most recent info near the top.


Updated August 5th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers:

  • 5855 Wave Swinger Ride, Photograph by Annette Shaff
  • 5856 Midway Gondola Wheel and a Ring of Fire, Photograph by Annette Shaff
  • 5857 Gondola Wheels, Photograph by Aleff Gripp
  • 5858 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Pamela Hennessey
  • 5859 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Phil Roeder
  • 5860 Gondola Wheel, Wave Swinger and Midway Food and Game Booths, Photograph by Timothy Hughes
  • 5861 Gondola Wheel, Photograph by Joseph Sohm
  • 5862 Round-Up Ride, Photograph by Bob Davidson
  • 5863 Carousel, Photograph by Sarah Beard Buckley
    a. Imperforate
    5864 Gondola Wheel and Wave Swinger, Photograph by Anthony Totah
    b. Block of 10, #5855-5864
    c. Imperforate block of 10, #5855a-5864aUpdated May 7th:
    [media advisory] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
    Celebrate the Magic of Carnival Nights StampsWhat: The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating one of America’s favorite pastimes with its Carnival Nights stamps. The first-day-of-issue ceremony is free and open to the public. News of these Forever stamps is being shared with the hashtag#CarnivalNightsStamps.

    Who: June Martindale, U.S. Postal Service, Alabama-Mississippi District manager

    Lynda Franc, North American Midway Entertainment, corporate marketing director

    Matt McDonnell, Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, executive director

    Greg Chiecko, Outdoor Amusement Business Association, president and CEO

    When: Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 6 p.m. Central.

    Where: South Mississippi Summer Fair
    Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center
    2350 Beach Blvd.
    Biloxi, MS 39531

    RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/carnivalnights

    Background:
    Celebrate the thrill and nostalgia of carnival nights with this colorful pane of 20 stamps featuring 10 new images that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival after the sun goes down.

    A variety of rides is shown in vibrant neon hues against a black night sky. Fireworks burst from behind a panorama of lights, and a row of glittering amusement booths invite passersby to try their luck.

    The photographs depict:

    Row one (left to right)1. Wave Swinger Ride; photograph by Annette Shaff
    2. Midway Gondola Wheel and a Ring of Fire; photograph by Annette Shaff
    3. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Joe Sohm
    4. Round-Up Ride; photograph by Bob Davidson

    Row two (left to right)5. Gondola Wheels; photograph by Aleff Gripp
    6. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Pamela Hennessey
    7. Carousel; photograph by Sarah Beard Buckley
    8. Gondola Wheel and Wave Swinger; photograph by Anthony Totah

    Row three (left to right)9. Gondola Wheel; photograph by Phil Roeder
    10. Gondola Wheel, Wave Swinger and Midway Food and Game Booths; photograph by Timothy Hughes

    The next 10 stamps repeat in the same order as the first 10.

    Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs.

    The Carnival Nights stamps will travel this summer
    The Postal Service will brand a North American Midway Entertainment Ferris wheel with a Carnival Nights stamps banner at the fair. The branded wheel and banner will travel to four fairs throughout the summer:

    • Marion County Fair, Indianapolis, June 28 to July 7
    • Northern Wisconsin State Fair, Chippewa Falls, WI, July 10 to July 14
    • Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, Aug. 2 to Aug. 18
    • Du Quoin State Fair, Du Quoin, IL, Aug. 23 to Sept. 2

    Updated May 2nd:
    On June 6, 2024, in Biloxi, MS, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Carnival Nights stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in 10 designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 485100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide June 6, 2024, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue. The

    Carnival Nights celebrates one of America’s favorite pastimes. Ten new stamps in a pane of 20 feature photographs that convey the energy and color of a summer carnival at night. A panoply of rides, an amusement booth, and fireworks are shown in vibrant neon hues against the black, night sky. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with existing photographs.

    Pane of 20, automatic distribution

    How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
    Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at store.usps.com/store/home. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

    FDOI – Carnival Nights Stamps
    USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
    8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
    Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

    After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by October 6, 2024.

    Technical Specifications:

    Issue: Carnival Nights Stamps
    Item Number: 485100
    Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
    Format: Pane of 20 (10 designs)
    Series: N/A
    Issue Date & City: June 6, 2024, Biloxi, MS 39530
    Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
    Designer: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
    Existing Photo: Sarah Beard Buckley
    Existing Photo: Bob Davidson
    Existing Photo: Aleff Gripp
    Existing Photo: Pamela Hennessey
    Existing Photo: Timothy Hughes
    Existing Photo: Phil Roeder
    Existing Photo: Joseph Sohm
    Existing Photo: Anthony Totah
    Existing Photos: Annette Shaff
    Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
    Manufacturing Process: Offset
    Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
    Press Type: Alprinta 74
    Stamps per Pane: 20
    Print Quantity: 18,000,000
    Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
    Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
    Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
    Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
    Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm
    Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm
    Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 6.4800 in. / 183.8960 x 164.5920 mm
    Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 20.4400 in. / 551.6880 x 519.1760 mm
    Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
    Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits in bottom two corners
    Marginal Markings:
    Front: Header: CARNIVAL NIGHTS • Plate number in bottom two corners
    Back: © 2023 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (485100) • Plate position diagram (9) • Promotional text

    Here are the first day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.32″ x 1.39″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.63″ x 1.20″

    Updated April 17th:
    These stamps will be available online for pre-ordering on May 6. USPS collectibles have been added to the U.S. 2024 Stamp Program listing for this issue (“USPS Order Numbers”).

    Updated February 23rd:
    These stamps will be issued June 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi, which this year is celebrating its 325th birthday.

4 thoughts on “Carnival Nights (U.S. 2024)

  1. From Linns: *June 6, Carnival Nights. Ten (68¢) forever commemorative stamps: wave swinger ride (Scott 5855), midway gondola wheel and a ring of fire (5856), gondola wheels (5857),
    gondola wheel with rainbow lights (5858), gondola wheel with orange lights (5859), gondola wheel with booths (5860), gondola wheel with fireworks (5861), round-up ride (5862),
    carousel (5863), and gondola wheel with wave swinger (5864), pane of 20; BCA; Biloxi, MS 39530; Linn’s June 3, page 10; USPS item No. 485104 (pane),
    485116 (set of 10 FDCs at $12.30), 485121 (color postmark set of FDCs at $20.80), 485106 (press sheet with die cuts at $122.40),
    485108 (press sheet without die cuts at $122.40).

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