INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The flashing lights and loud music rising from the carnival section of the Indian River County Firefighters’ Fair this week seem to be magnetic. They pull children and adults alike to trade tickets for a few minutes of spinning, racing, or flying.
With more than 35 rides at the fair this year with varying degrees of intensity, all are sure to find the carnival ride for them.
After a bit of research, here are the VeroNews.com “Top 5 Fair Rides” to look out for this week.
5. Thunder Bolt
Located toward the back end of the carnival grounds, fairgoers will hear popular music blasting from the Thunder Bolt’s speakers before they see it. The ride consists of a ring of two-seater, open-air cars. When the ride begins, the cars move forward along the circular track, picking up speed and tilting toward the center. If riders aren’t dizzy enough already, the ride switches gears and takes them on the same fast-paced ride in the opposite direction. This is not recommended on a full stomach!
Tickets: 8
Height to Ride: 48 inches
4. Cuckoo Haus
The Cuckoo Haus is located on the very back edge of the carnival grounds and has one of the fastest moving lines on the grounds. The ride’s operator, Tim Fowler, said the line is constant, but never long because it’s a walk through. Participants navigate unsteady walking paths, moving hand rails, step on a spinning platform, and end the tour of the house crawling through a rotating tunnel. This ride is entertaining for all ages and a good “big ride” to bring the little ones on.
Tickets: 8
Height to Ride: 42 inches with an adult, 46 inches without an adult
3. Cyclone Roller Coaster
Look for the tall roller coaster on the south side of the fairgrounds, the name is hard to find, but ride operators call it the “Cyclone.” The roller coaster takes riders up a three tiered spiral track and reaches approximately 45 miles per hour on the downhills. Each coaster buggy holds up to 5 people, and each buggy flies across the tracks individually, rather than connected in a train.
Tickets: 10
Height to Ride: 56 inches
2. Fire Ball
This ride is for thrill seekers only! Riders file into cars connected in train-like fashion at the bottom of a towering loop, strap themselves in shoulder harnesses, and hold on tight. The ride travels around the inside of the loop multiple times, suspending riders upside-down at the top, sometimes for a few seconds before sending them speeding down the track toward the bottom. The cycle repeats multiple times. Though the ride is not very long, it is known to flip a few stomachs and cause hearts to race.
Tickets: 8
Height to Ride: 48 inches
1. Skyflyer
The highest ride on the fairgrounds, fair goers will spot the Skyflyer before they even reach the parking lot. A star formation lowers to the ground with swings attached by long chords at the end of each point. Riders file two by two into swings, the star slowly rises to the top of the tower, then spins, sending the swingers outward and around in a circle. For those who are not afraid of the height, the ride can be very relaxing. This ride is a great opportunity to feel the wind in your hair and get a great view of the entire fair beneath you.
Tickets: 10
Height to Ride: 48 inches
Aside from the rides mentioned, there is plenty more to explore at the firefighters’ fair this week, including a whole section full of rides geared toward small kids.
Don’t forget, Wednesday evening is the rescheduled “carload special.” For up to seven passengers buckled into a single car, everyone in the vehicle receives admission and unlimited ride bands for $60.