Ladies Night at the festival ... oh what a night
November 06, 2009
Avery and her friends ride the freefall in Kiddie Land. I got a quick break before getting back on the rides. This ride is pretty fun and not stomach wrenching like the adult version. I rode with Avery three times.
It’s been two days since my annual pilgrimage to the National Peanut Festival. I’m starting to feel human again.
Waking up Thursday morning after our marathon session at Ladies Night, I felt like I’d been on a two-day bender. My brain was foggy. I was dizzy. The thought of food turned my stomach. All I wanted to do was crawl in a dark hole and sleep.
The cause? Whirling like a dervish for four hours.
Jon Johnson, the sports editor, warned me. He’d spent Tuesday evening as the designated rider with his two girls. Too bad I didn’t listen.
As I stumbled through yesterday, I discovered more parents with the same problem. Apparently, defying gravity while spinning like a top isn’t a good idea for most people over 30 .
It’s time to admit the truth. I belong in Kiddie Land.
Those rides are fun and easygoing. Most are a pared down version of the adult rides and they probably won’t make you sick. And if you are like me, the kiddie rides won’t cause you to imagine the all horrific ways you could be maimed or killed.
Yep, another sign of getting old.
My 7-year-old daughter, Avery, still enjoys the kid rides. But she’s also fearless and wants to ride anything she’s tall enough for on the midway. If your children are content with Kiddie Land, keep them there as long as possible. Once you let them loose on the midway, you may not be able to drag them back.
My best advice is to find your child a friend to ride with —bring one or meet one. They’ll have a ride partner and you can skip anything that looks too wild. But if you do end up as the designated rider, here are a few tips:
Don’t miss the Rockin’ Tug in Kiddie Land. Year after year, it’s one of our favorites.
Stay away from the big hang glider ride. Normally, I love it. But this year it’s on steroids. It is about twice as fast as normal and flies at a steeper angle. Hop on the kids’ version. It’s on the opposite side of the midway.
Skip the Crazy Mouse ride. Instead, head to the other end of the midway to the Indy 500 ride. It’s fantastic and the wait is shorter. Two people can ride per car on this mini-rollercoaster. There are twists, turns and a good bit of speed. Avery and I picked it as our favorite ride this year.
Curious about the World’s Smallest Horse but too cheap to fork out $1 to see it? Hop on the swings next to the booth. As you fly by, you can see down into the booth. There really is a small horse in there.
Oldies but goodies win every time. Hit the Scrambler and Tilt-A-Whirl. Both will make you dizzy, but if you plan ahead you’ll be OK. Don’t ride any spinning rides right before or after this ride.
If your kids aren’t hardcore riders, try fitting in the Star Family Circus, sea lion show or the petting zoo in between rides. This should give you a break from all the spinning madness.
We’re headed back to the festival Saturday. Thankfully, there won’t be any rides. We’re going to eat, watch the sea lion and circus shows, visit the petting zoo, look at the exhibits and take in the demolition derby.
