On the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds, the amusement park area is referred to as Spin City. It is a loud, obnoxious cacophony of sounds and lights, people being hurled at high speeds while inverted, spun, lifted, launched and dropped.
On the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds, the amusement park area is referred to as Spin City. It is a loud, obnoxious cacophony of sounds and lights, people being hurled at high speeds while inverted, spun, lifted, launched and dropped.
The barkers hustle passersby into trying their games of chance, luring the more competitive with promises of ridiculous overlarge stuffed animals and cartoon characters. Passing through you are inundated with alarms, sirens, buzzers, clacking, bells and whistles, the buzzing of power generators and the carnal roar of the machinery, nearly as loud as the screams from excited riders.
Gates slam shut with metallic clicks as riders are locked into their seats, and there is no end of shouting. From childish laughter as kids run amok and knee-high, to attendants shouting the all-clear to ride controllers. The screen-door sound of a port-a-potty slamming shut. Above all the din are the competing loud speakers blasting competing medleys of pop anthems and classic hits.
The more experienced carnies are practiced enough to hide their exhaustion and show enthusiasm to each new face, while the less motivated stare off into space from within a solid deadpan mask. The days for carnies are long and hot, it’s been 12 hours and feet hurt and legs are tired from standing.
The teenagers meander in boisterous waves, cliques form and dissolve, follow the leader and hangout and be cool and that is the place to be. The clash of fashion is almost as extreme as the range of hair styles. The girls have on their best outfits, and the guys drag their feet — would you pull up your goddamn pants?!
The sun drops low and the lights come on, and lines form at the food carts, corndogs and cotton candy, popcorn and pizza by the slice, and ice cream, and there’s a kid puking in the wastebin.
The police make their presence known, on foot or on horseback. Uniformed, Public Safety, one step removed from thuggery, roving about in two’s and three’s, look for trouble.
A weary mother digs through her purse as she buys another sheet of tickets, hoping her fickle son will use them before the Fair closes. Meanwhile the Ferris Wheel does a lazy turn, and two-stories up, a teenager gets his first kiss.