Funfair and Fairground Myths and Urban Legends

Welcome to the realm of Funfair Myths and Urban Legends, where reality often takes a back seat to the eerie, the uncanny, and the downright bizarre. The funfair has been a place of mystery and intrigue for generations, and while we pride ourselves on the utmost levels of safety, we still enjoy a good story about the horrors that might lie behind the scenes!

At We Are Tricycle, we've been in the business of funfairs, fairgrounds, and amusement parks for years, and we've heard our fair share of stories that can send shivers down your spine. From the spine-tingling tales of haunted carousels to the spine-chilling curses said to plague funfairs, and the hair-raising truths behind legends like Elmer McCurdy, our journey into the world of funfair myths is bound to leave you both intrigued and astounded. So buckle up, dear reader, and prepare to explore the enchanting, mysterious, and occasionally terrifying side of the amusement world with us. But remember - unlike funfair rides, some stories are best enjoyed from the safety of your screen.

Check out some of our favourite urban legends below. If we've missed any out, please contact us and we'll be happy to update the list!

Myths and Tall Tales from the Fairground and Carnival

Carousel superstitions: From the The Haunted Carousel Horse at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Ohio to the Cursed Carousel that attacked a rider with a hidden Florida snake, we explore some of the spooky stories people have made about Carousels and Merry-go-Rounds, plus some good luck ideas, too!

The Tale of Elmer McCurdy: This horrifying tale sees an executed convict mistakenly sold as a dummy, with the corpse eventually finding itself as a corpse in a fun house. And the scariest part of this story is - it's true!

The Ghosts of Lake Shawnee Amusement Park: Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is one of the most haunted hotspots in the world, with a horrifying history leading to endless ghost sightings. Find out more here!

The Ghosts of Luna Park, Melbourne - Another haunted theme park, Luna Park in Melbourne has a number of ghostly apparitions that send icy chills down the back of its visitors!

Murder on the Ghost Train: A murder on a ghost train is a popular trope in film and TV, with origins dating back to the the 1959 film The Ghost Train Murder, which features a murder on a ghost ride.

Armed Safari Park Animals: Have you heard that the animals at Knowsley Safari Park are armed and dangerous, after visitors left weapons around their enclosures? Discover if this is true here.

Disney Theme Park Urban Legends: There are so many urban legends about Disney theme parks, we had to compile them all! Find out about human remains in the Pirates of the Caribbean, and discover if Walt Disney is really cryogenically frozen within its confines.

Drunk Fireworks: "Drunk fireworks" are small, fast, and unpredictable pyrotechnic devices used during the Valencian Fallas festival in Spain that are associated with a folk myth stating that they will chase and hit anyone who runs away from them. The myth's validity was explored in a 2022 study published on arXiv, which found that, in simulation, a person is statistically more likely to be hit by a "drunk firework" if they attempt to run.

The Chained Oak at Alton Towers - Staffordshire has an oak tree covered in chains, with local legend saying that one of the Earl of Shrewsbury's bloodline will die whenever a branch falls from it. This myth has been incorporated into Alton Towers theme park - especially the 'Hex' House of Horrors attraction. .

The Disappearing Funfair Ride Passenger - A viral video appears to show a child mysteriously disappear as a funfair ride spins around. Is it a ghost child, or merely some camera trickery?

The Legend of the Laughing Funhouse Clown -There are lots of spooky tales about laughing clowns in fairground funhouses, as well as some in-depth lore relating to a clown figure at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Perhaps these are inspired by Stephen King's IT?

Cloggy, the Ghost Train Ghost - Still in Blackpool, the Ghost Train ride is supposedly haunted by "Cloggy". Cloggy was a former ride operator, known for wearing clogs, and is said to have had his clunking footsteps heard around the ride, with some even reporting a feeling of a presence watching over them. The ride itself, built in 1930, is the world's first Ghost Train and has a long history of spooky rumours and alleged paranormal activity.

The Devil of Pétassou: The Périgueux Carnival in France is surrounded by various folk beliefs, including the idea that the festivities help drive away pests like fleas, spiders, and cockroaches. People also perform fertility rituals to boost crops and livestock—such as tossing broth into the cowshed, placing a bone on the oldest cow’s head, saving the best pancake for hens, and firing a shotgun at night. Legends say the Devil joins the celebration, then hosts a witches’ Sabbath that evening in a remote clearing, appearing as either a tortured man with a pitchfork or a horned goat. Locals believe his presence warns against misbehavior after Carnival. Weather sayings in regional dialects also link Carnival to agricultural predictions, suggesting that rain on the day means a good year for buckwheat or nuts, and that Mardi Gras always coincides with a February new moon.

Polybius: Polybius is a legendary arcade game said to have appeared in Portland, Oregon in 1981, surrounded by eerie rumors of mind control and government experiments. Allegedly created by a shadowy company called Sinneslöschen, the arcade game featured hypnotic visuals and gameplay so disturbing it caused seizures, memory loss, and psychological breakdowns. The arcade cabinet was purportedly so addictive that players returned repeatedly until they went insane or died. Some stories claim mysterious men in black monitored players and collected data, linking the game to CIA programs like MKUltra.

Berzerk, the Arcade Game that Kills: Berzerk, a 1980s arcade game known for its robotic enemies and the relentless Evil Otto, became infamous after a tragic incident in 1981 when 19-year-old Jeff Dailey died of a heart attack shortly after playing it. The game’s intense gameplay and eerie synthesized voice effects fueled speculation that it was somehow linked to his death. A year later, another player reportedly died under similar circumstances, and rumors began to swirl that Berzerk had claimed multiple lives. Though no direct connection was ever proven, these incidents helped cement Berzerk as a chilling legend in gaming history, often cited alongside urban myths like Polybius.

Danger Night at The Hoppings in Newcastle-upon-Tyne : Local legend says the first night of The Hoppings fair has all rides half-price—rumour has it the organisers use that night to test new or updated rides on the public. It’s been denied by organisers, but persists among locals.

Villa Volta and the Buckriders - The Buckriders were legendary 18th-century robbers in the Belgian and Dutch borderlands who supposedly rode goats provided by the devil. Villa Volta, a madhouse attraction at the Efteling theme park, is based on the Buckrider legend and features the story of their leader, Hugo van den Loonsche Duynen. The attraction's narrative is about Hugo's house being cursed after a robbery, causing the structure and its inhabitants to experience unsettling transformations and seemingly turn upside down.

The Exhibition of the Weyhill Mermaid - Scant reports eagerly looked over by lovers of the weird and wonderful suggest that a real-life mermaid was pulled out of the waterways of Southampton and exhibited at a fair in Weyhill. What's the story behind this Hampshire fairground tale?

The Women who Really Love Rollercoasters - Everyone loves roller coasters - but there are some women out there who really love them! Find out about the twists and turns in the love-lives of these so-called objectophiles.

Spreepark - the Cursed Berlin Theme Park - Few theme parks have a history as chequered as Spreepark in Berlin! From drug trafficking to fires and bankruptcy, we look at the story of a theme park that seems to have had an almost-unbelievable run of poor fortune.

Did Elvis once perform at a theme park? The myths, rumours and urban legends surrounding the King of Rock and Roll are too numerous to list! Is it true that a young Elvis Presley once appeared at a funfair, and what happened since?

Funfair and Fairground April Fools Ideas - Not quite myths and legends, but they might've had us convinced otherwise! We Are Tricycle looks at what funfairs and fairgrounds have done to befuddle the public on April 1st.

The Hoppings - The Newcastle-upon-Tyne funfair was legendarily cursed by an aggrieved elderly woman, who used her magic powers to condemn rain to fall every year the Hoppings was held from then on after being thrown off the moor by local residents.

The Real Ghost Trains - We explore whether these paranormal locomotive spectres are as real as fairground ghost trains in our exploration into the unreal and unusual.

Charter Fairs - Some claim that Charter Fairs need to be held every single year, and if they miss one year, then their centuries-old Royal Charters will be taken away from them. Fortunately, this isn't true - although during the COVID pandemic, some charter fairs set up a single stall just in case it was!

Unfair myths about fairground workers - While not as fun as the spookier myths, a kind of 'folk mythology' has built up around the people who work at fairgrounds. Fairground workers are often unfairly stereotyped as shady, untrustworthy, or uneducated, despite the reality being far more diverse and professional. Myths range from the absurd—like claims they abduct children or rig games—to the superficial, such as assumptions that they’re all heavily tattooed or aggressive. These misconceptions ignore the fact that many fairground families have operated rides and attractions for generations, with deep pride in their craft, strong community values, and a commitment to safety and entertainment.

You'll always have a wild time when you're with We Are Tricycle. There'll be no need for stories and tall tales, as the fun will be enough on its own! Take a look through all our products to see what we could bring to your event, and contact us to make your order or if you have any questions.