Ideas for Traditional Fairground Rides
At We Are Tricycle, we're delighted to be able to offer traditional and vintage fairground rides for hire as well as many modern or updated attractions. Read on to see some ideas for traditional, classic and vintage funfair rides.
Vintage Carousels
Nothing quite evokes the funfairs and fairgrounds of old like carousels. We have some carousels and merry-go-rounds that were first sat upon many generations ago, such as our Traditional Victorian Carousel or our Children's Victorian Carousel. The golden hues, the old-time horse designs and the sumptuous decorations make these traditional rides ideal for glamorous occasions.
Classic Ferris Wheels
Ferris wheels are still a very popular funfair ride nowadays. In fact, in the modern era, the Ferris wheel is more than a fairground attraction - you're just as likely to see giant wheels at tourist hotspots such as at the London Eye in Westminster. People love gazing at the scenery from one of these towering machines.
Old-Fashioned Helter Skelters
When you imagine the funfairs and fairgrounds of years gone by, Helter Skelters are one of those iconic rides that immediately pop into the mind. Even the design of these slides, such as the classic Lighthouse Helter Skelter shape, evoke buildings and structures that we don't see very often these days, Wooden frames add to the traditional and vintage appeal of the Helter Skelter slide.
Traditional Funfair Games and Side Stalls
It's hard to imagine a funfair without side stalls and games. Many of the games you can play at the fair today have survived from the earliest fairgrounds, such as Hooplah and the Coconut Shy. Funfair side stalls are traditionally decorated in red and white stripes, and come under pitched marquees and canopies.
The Tea Cups Children's Funfair Ride
The Tea Cups ride is also known as the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, referencing the character from Louis Caroll's Victorian-era fantasy book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This is a classic children's fairground ride that offers a gentle alternative to more white-knuckle options, and that packs a lot of fun into a small footprint.
A Classic Dodgems Track
The Dodgems might seem like an ultra-modern funfair attraction, with their sleek design and pumping music systems, but there are traditional Dodgems too, which is no surprise considering the ride was first invented back in 1920. The earliest Dodgem cars could break easily, and the point of the attraction was actually to avoid hitting other users - or 'dodge 'em'.
Vintage Swing boats
The Swing Boats are a great ride for couples as well as kids. With their simple design, the two-person boat swings are quick to set up and put a lot of fun into a small footprint.
Heritage Chair O Planes
The Chair O Planes and the WaveSwinger date back to the earliest amusement parks, with records of them dating back to the early 1900s. These rides used to be static, but in the 1970s, mobile versions were made for travelling funfairs and fairgrounds.
Flying Elephants - Inspired by Dumbo
Flying Elephants are another beloved family funfair attraction that parents and guardians can enjoy with their kids. The flying elephant funfair ride was definitely inspired by Disney's 1941 classic Dumbo, about the baby elephant that could fly thanks to its huge ears.
The Vintage Hall of Mirrors
Get lost in the Hall of Mirrors Mirror Maze! The concept of this vintage funfair attraction is simple - there's one way through the maze and a few blind alleys to get lost in, and every wall is covered with a floor-to-ceiling, crystal-clear mirror to add to the confusion and bewilderment. This fairground amusement - also known as the House of Mirrors - is the star of countless movies, with directors continually using it for metaphors and symbolism. The House of Mirrors has been around for well over a century - visitors in the Musée Grévin in Paris have been able to visit its Hall of Mirrors since 1900!
Medieval Fun on the Pirate Ship
The Pirate ship funfair ride sees participants sit at either end of a pirate galleon that then swings forwards and backwards, exerting thrilling forces on participants. There's a lot of fun and adrenaline to be had on these rides, and you might think that they're modern, but the first examples date back to the 1890s. The pirate ship fairground ride is designed to evoke the Golden Age of Piracy, which was from around 1650 to 1730.
Vintage Waltzers Funfair Ride
The Waltzers are a perennial fairground favourite, and are especially common in the UK and Ireland. They were initially developed in Cheshire in 1930, but were similar to already-existing attractions. Nowadays, it seems like every funfair and fairground has the Waltzers, and these amusements have even found their way into some of the country's biggest theme parks.
Have we missed anything out? Let us know - take a look at our contact page!