Colton Underhill enjoyed the many midways games, like Freddy's Frog Pond. - NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s midway was bustling Thursday afternoon, following its return after two years away.
Located in front of the Stampede’s grandstand, this year’s midway features a selection of rides and games for all ages.
One section of the midway houses rides and games more suited to children, while the other section is geared towards thrill-seekers, with family attractions scattered throughout.
Frequent Stampede-goers will likely be familiar with the majority of midway rides and games, as almost all of them have visited Medicine Hat’s stampede in the past. When wandering the midway, make sure to look out for favourites like; Super Slide; Choo Choo Charlie, a children’s train; Fireball, a 360-degree roller coaster; Super Shot, a daredevil drop; Vertigo, a soar swing set; and Zipper, a 1968 original, double-rotation thrill ride.
And don’t forget to check out the Rockstar – a towering 360-degree rotating platform family thrill-ride – visiting Medicine Hat for the first time.
Midway tickets are needed to access rides and family attractions, such as the haunted house or fun house. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth located in the centre of the midway; one for $1.25, 20 for $25, 40 for $45 or one-day, all-access wristbands can be purchased for $50.
Rides and attractions cost anywhere from three to six tickets each.
Children under the age of two are not permitted on any rides, and some rides have height restrictions.
As well as rides, the midway offers a variety of games, such as free throw basketball, strength testers, moving targets, balloon pops and more.
Cash is required for all midway games. For those without cash, an ATM is located next to the ticket booth.
While a few select games offer cash prizes, the majority have plush prizes which vary from booth to booth. And plush prizes can be traded between booths, if gameplay is successful at both booths.
Whether trying their hand at games or braving the rides, Stampede-goers seem to be enjoying this year’s midway.
“It’s been two years since we last came out,” Renee Daniels, who had just arrived at the midway with her family, said when the News spoke with her Thursday afternoon. “So, we thought ‘why not come today?’ It’s fun.”
For Mo Stephen, Michael Stevens and friends, the fun lay in the challenge of thrill-rides.
“We’re going to ride everything that makes us puke,” Stephen said.
Four-year-old Leila Gnam had a much simpler goal. All she wanted was to try the flying elephant ride.
“I didn’t go on it (yet),” she said when telling the News what she what she was most looking forward to.
