Official Carnival Spotting Thread

[FParker185]

Was thinking this would make it alot easier for anyone and everyone to find carnivals around here, as due to the extreme nature of the Chicago area carnival business spots are kept top secret and that makes it hard to find carnivals to visit and finding specific rides like say Zipper which is disappearing pretty fast, so here's how it goes.

If you see a carnival setting up or open somewhere post in this thread, tell what city it's in, maybe major cross streets, what major rides you see and if you can tell, what show it is.

Also, due to the nature of the carnival business in this area please don't post about upcoming carnivals until stuff actually shows up on the lot, even if you know for sure where a carnival is going to happen and who's doing it. Though if it's south of say I-80 or north of the WI border, feel free to post whenever if you know something present or future.

I dont know of any right now, but the season is starting and most all local area shows should be on the road by the end of this month.

[zjohn1988]

Windy City Amusements always set up in my town in July. Its usually the 2nd weekend. They usually have the zipper, although sometimes they dont...

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Same with my town, however, it's the last weekend of July usually. However, same company and they always have the Zipper! I'll post when it gets close like always.

[!)EJAVU-FAN!]

Since My birthday is coming up in about 12 more days. (may-3) Skerbeck Carnival always sets up in Kingsford Michigan At the K-Of-C-Hall parking lot. The dates are beginning may 2nd, I think. The rides we normally have are, the twister, gravitron, paratroopers,hustler,hy-flyer. Those are the larger rides we have. It's just a carnival that comes up for us teens to go to during the last month of school.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

Windy City Amusements is right by me, well, about 20 minutes away. Today was their last day. I went the other day, just to ride the Zipper twice. Ahhhh, amazing. They usually always were in my town around 4th of July, but not last year. I hadn't ridden the Zipper in over a year. Last year, there was Spectacular Midways instead. Definitely not as fun as WCA. Turbo Force is amazing, but I like WCA's rides a lot better than most other rides SM had.

[coastercrazy111]

Windy City Amusements is setup in the parking lot near Kohl's in Chicago Ridge, IL on Ridgeland Avenue. I am not sure the date that it ends. They have a Zipper , a Gravitron, Music Fest, Tilt-A-Whirl, and a couple of other small rides.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^Doesn't that area have like five carnivals a year?

Thanks for the update, though, i'll be swingin by hopefully

[coastercrazy111]

I'm not sure, but the one that they have setup now, went on forever last year. It almost seemed like it would NEVER end. It is pretty expensive though. One ticket is $1.00 and most of the good rides are 4 tickets. They have this AMAZING deal, 20 tickets for $20.00. Considering tickets are $1.00 each that is an AMAZING deal. Catch my sarcasm? I only rode Zipper and Gravitron, played two games and then left. It is small, with small selections of food, and games, but its nice for a little taste of summer.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

Correction, next Sunday the 29th is the last day of that carnival by the mall I was talking about. Not sure if I'm gonna go again or not to actually try out the ride I want to ride (Predator I think it was called).

[FParker185]

I'm suprised tickets are still $1 each 95 cents or $1.05 is far better and makes it harder to keep track of how much you're spending (i.e. you spend more and/or you have tickets left over at the end, so you either have to buy more, or walk away with unused tickets)

[SIC COASTER]

Theres a canival in the chicago ridge mall parking lot (westfeild shopping town lot) they have the zipper and it pretty much stays up for the entire summer for some reason.

[coastercrazy111]

Thats the carnival that I already talked about.

[sfgam1992]

There is a carnival in the parking lot of orland square mall. It opened last week but its still up. April 29th is the last day.

[FParker185]

Orland Square, sounds like good on the way to Dollywood Trip material this coming friday

The system works!

[Trailblazer Tony]

I'm not sure, but the one that they have setup now, went on forever last year. It almost seemed like it would NEVER end. It is pretty expensive though. One ticket is $1.00 and most of the good rides are 4 tickets. They have this AMAZING deal, 20 tickets for $20.00. Considering tickets are $1.00 each that is an AMAZING deal. Catch my sarcasm? I only rode Zipper and Gravitron, played two games and then left. It is small, with small selections of food, and games, but its nice for a little taste of summer.

That's why you go on Wristband nights at Windy City Amusement carnivals! Nothing like 10 bucks for 6 hours of unlimited riding, especially with their Zipper!!! And Orland Square sounds like a good idea for me as well, I like how all the carnivals in my area (Westfield and Orland malls) are up when i'm away at college still

[FParker185]

got one here in Woodridge in front of Village hall, not sure on the show, going tonight though.

Any others? there are currently at least 10 different spots in the area, everyone is out in full force.

edit: was just there, it's alpine amusements and it's a pretty small spot, ARM drop, FullTilt, scooters, wipeout, watkins swinger, Hi-5, Zero Gravity, tilt, handfull of hamptons like 2 food trailers and a full row of games.

Every year Woodridge Jubilee gets smaller and smaller, sucks.

[FParker185]

k, so far this week

All Around amusements along with Modern Midways is in Lisle at Eyes to the Skies festival, walked though today to see what was there so far, and there is KAmikaze, Phraoh's Fury, Force 10, SCAT (force 10 and SCAT are 2 of the most intense rides ever made), Expo Wheel, Dark Ride, Raiders, Himilaya and a handfull of other rides. It's near the corner of IL 53 and Maple Ave in lisle and opens tomorrow and should run though July 4.

There are a bunch around this weekend, anyone know of more.

Also worth noting is that later in the week around the 4'th Mighty Bluegrass opens up in Streator IL and the rides they bring vary sometimes but they always being the King of the Midway, SkyWheel, and is only one of maybe 4-5 left in the world that still operate. It's about 2 hours south of chicago, I will definately be heading down there, if anyone else is going let me know, may meet up I'm undecided on what day I'm going.

[rct2wizard360]

We've got one opening up in Oak Forest tomorrow.

But as Amber said, it's Spectacular Midways again this year.
Apparantley we forked up the cash to get a Fireball this year along WITH Turbo Force.

Thanks for the info up in Lisle FParker! Definatley going to check that out.

[FRD714]

Carnival in Rosemont in the Allstate Arena parking lot.

[FParker185]

quick thing about Lisle, just went there, and SCAT isnt working quite right, could have been unbalanced, but if anyone goes dont expect it to be all that intense, the main cross arm is not doing circles the tire slips. Force 10 is as crazy as ever though.

[RagingBullRocks32]

the darien fest next to darien community park and across from the library starts september 7, 2007

[Mr.SIX]

Fronteir Days at Arlington Heigts is here it opened yesterday the have a good amount of rides being.

Fireball-Spinning Swingship
Haunted Dark ride
Power Surge- A fun Zamperla ride
Tilt-A-Whirl
Inverter-PAINFUL!!!
Himilaya
Farris Wheel
Dragon Coaster
Fun Slide
Mini Swings
Bumper Cars
Mini Bumper Cars

The carnival there is pretty good and it is pretty popular with the locals.

[sfgam12321]

I know its late but theres cary days its till tomarrow. They have a zipper and stuff like that.

[cycamps]

Petuniafest in Dixon, IL has been going on. The highlight ride is called the Ring of Fire and is just like a loop to any coaster.

[Mr.SIX]

The Ring of Fire is a good carnival ride =) and the zipper is good aswell but it seems very home made but it's still ALOT of fun.