When autumn came around the corner, the Applefest started to occupy conversation in the Fenton community. Whether you’re enthusiastic about the foods, the face painting, the races or the raffles, there’s no denying that the carnival rides are the most well-known part of the festival. These are the top five Applefest rides that should be considered for riding next year.
- Freak Out
The “Freak Out” is a pendulum ride, featuring 16 seats that allow feet to dangle. The ride’s claw shaped arm rotates in a circle as it swings side to side, gaining momentum. When the ride swings for a certain amount of time, it gets high enough that the riders are upside down. Many people say they enjoy this ride because of the view and the drop. If afraid of heights or drops, getting over this fear is crucial to enjoy the ride. “Coming from a person who hates upsidedown rides, the Freak Out is my favorite ride,” freshman Isabella Zub stated.
- Gravitron
The “Gravitron” was created to resemble a UFO, being decorated with colorful blinking lights and space-like art on the billboard that advertises it. Inside the Gravitron, there are no seats or seat belts. Riders are to stand with their backs against a tall, slanted red cushion. As the ride starts, there is a feeling of progressively being pressed against the wall by the centrifugal force, and the cushion will slowly move upwards on the slant of the wall, making riders feel weightless. Many students have declared this as their favorite ride, but have also warned anyone with a light stomach to be cautious.
- Twister
The “Twister” is easy to compare to the “Freak Out” and the “Fireball” from Applefest during previous years. The Twister has two rows of seats that are on a platform at the bottom end of a mechanical arm. When the ride starts, the platform moves side to side and slowly gains enough momentum to fully swing upwards and back down in a circle. The riders are never upside down when the arm is swinging. Similar to the Ferris Wheel, the Twister provides a clear view of the carnival. If brave enough, riders can bring their phone and snap a picture from the top of the ride.
Honorable Mention 1: Himalaya
The “Himalaya” is quick and perfect for a cool breeze on a hot day. It takes riders in a colorfully lit circle that reverses one-third of the way through, then moves forward again at the end. The ride is known for its speed, loud music and flashy lights. In each car, a maximum of three people are able to sit together and they are restrained by a single lap bar. The Himalaya has a backdrop that divides the track in two parts. This is meant to create a head chopper effect, similar to many wooden roller coasters. This portion of the ride is also slightly higher than the front half, so there isn’t a continuous smooth loop. Although the speed and lights can sound thrilling, riders should be aware that the force of the ride pushes the inside rider against the outside rider.
Honorable Mention 2: Cliffhanger
The “Cliffhanger” resembles a hang glider and each glider holds three riders. The whole ride is a circle with 10 gliders in total. When boarding the ride, riders are to lay on their stomach and wait for the operator to push the bar down behind them and secure them into the seat. When the ride starts, the Cliff Hanger spins at a 65 degree angle, putting riders 50 feet into the air. Moving face-first through the air, riders are flown down to the ground and back upwards multiple times. The Cliffhanger isn’t particularly thrilling, but instead, it’s very enjoyable to feel as though you are flying.
