The History of the Funfair
The funfair is an entertaining day out for all the family, and we all love to ride a scary roller coaster, play competitive funfair games, or eat as much candyfloss as we can before we feel sick!
Throughout history, funfairs have featured some early examples of the games and rides we all know and love today, including penny arcades, shooting galleries and entertaining shows.
But when did the first funfairs come about, and how did they evolve into the family-friendly attractions we all know and love today? Find out more with We Are Tricycle!
Funfairs have been a staple for family days out in the UK for centuries! One of the earliest fairs recorded was Bartholemew Fair in 1133. This fair wasn't quite as fun as the funfairs we have nowadays, with many people coming to the fair to trade their goods and find the best bargain. However, there were some elements of entertainment, with exciting dances, music, and even competitive tournaments for everyone to watch!
However, it was in the 18th and 19th centuries that the funfair as a place of exciting entertainment was born. The public could come to a funfair and see everything from acrobatics and magic to juggling and fun competitions. These funfairs were for everyone, both rich and poor - even those with less money could afford to spend any extra wages they had on trying out all the marvellous delights of the fairground.
In the 1860s and 1870s, the funfair truly took off. The first steam-powered carousel saw many people finally enjoy their first mechanical funfair ride. These "galloping horses" are a much-beloved feature of the merry-go-round funfair carousel, and the same design can be seen across the country even to this day. We've looked further into this in our FAQ entry the history of the Carousel.
This was a time without modern technology, and so funfairs were a place of wonder for those living in Victorian Britain. When the average British person would have still travelled by horse and cart, these funfairs must have seemed truly magical.
The USA's innovations in funfair rides
Over in America, fairs were becoming more and more exciting, with the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 bringing the people of Chicago music, entertainment, and an early example of the beautiful Ferris wheel. This fair first introduced the idea of an enclosed place of wonder, offering an area where people could simply enjoy their day out without thinking about their problems. This is still the case at modern funfairs. Today, funfairs and fairgrounds aim to create a fun, entertaining, and memorable place for everyone to enjoy, away from the pressures of modern life.
We Are Tricycle love to provide guests of all ages with a memorable and magical day out at the funfair. We have an excellent selection of funfair rides, such as our historical Helter Skelters or our thrill and white knuckle rides. Choose from our fantastic funfair or fairground hires to create the perfect event for families, couples, grandparents, and children.
Please get in touch to hear about the fantastic range of entertaining funfair rides and games we have for hire here at We Are Tricycle, including dodgems, Helter Skelters, fairground stalls, and more. Visit our handy contact page to see how to speak with our team.