Published: March 28, 2008 12:29 am            

Carnival offers entertainment for kids of all ages

Kids of all ages flocked to the Walker County Fairgrounds Thursday for the sneak preview of the carnival.

Eighteen rides have been brought in from both Southern Stage Show and Goldstar Amusement, and ride attendants are preparing for 15-hour days for the length of the fair.

“We’ve got a staff that’s out here seven days a week from seven in the morning till 9 or 10 at night,” Splendora-based Southern Stage Show owner Billy Pearson said.

Goldstar Amusements out of Minneapolis, Minn., has been contracted to provide three thrill rides sure to keep teens on edge — the Tornado, Zero Gravity and Pharoah’s Fury.

“It takes a couple of days to get everything set up,” Adrian Erasmus of Goldstar Amusements said. “Each ride goes through preventative and routine maintenance and inspections. All of the rides differ from each other. Some require more maintenance than the others. For instance, the Fury takes 4 1/2 hours to set up.”

Erasmus said that his company works about 38 events during the year over a 10-month span that starts up in February and ends around November.

“We provide rides for three state fairs, a lot of county fairs, church fairs and festivals,” he said.

Life on the road has its advantages, but establishing a family life can be difficult, Erasmus stated.

“Being on the road every weekend is a lifestyle,” he said. “It takes a lot of determination, but the smiling faces on the kids is pretty much what keeps us going. Traveling from state to state, we meet a lot of people and see a lot of interesting places.”

One popular ride this year at the Fair is the Hurricane.

“The Hurricane raises up in the air and goes in circles,” Erasmus said. “We brought in the Tornado, which allows you to spin yourself in the car, and of course the Pharoah’s Fury, which dips side to side.

Standing closest to the skyline at the Fair is the Rock-a-Plane, which is a variation between a traditional ferris wheel and the Zipper.

“The difference between the Rock-A-Plane and a traditional ferris wheel is that usually the tubs are stationary on a ferris wheel, but with the Rock-A-Plane, it’s more like the Zipper with the cages turning,” he said.

One might wonder what the average life of an attraction might be.

“If a ride is maintained well, they can last a good 20 years if you take care of them,” Erasmus said. “The company that manufacturers the rides sells them to the ride owners so different companies may have the same ride across the country.”

This year’s Fair also features several rides geared towards the younger kids. Their choice of selection includes the elephants, gator railcars, motorcycles, dragons and ladybugs.

Other rides include the carousel, Fun Slide, Jungle Fun, Scat (a bowl-shaped ride that turns in circles), Sizzler and the hanging swings.

Tickets are $1 each with all rides varying between two and five tickets apiece.

Armbands will be available each night and cost $15 on Fridays, $20 on Saturdays and $15 on Sunday through Thursday.

        

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