Sounds of laughter, bright lights and the view of spinning rides fill the air as the Oviedo Mall Carnival makes its return once again. From Feb. 4-8, family and friends can come together for food, rides and games. The traveling carnival set up in the mall parking lot features a variety of activities. It has become a popular attraction for Oviedo residents who are looking for affordable fun.
Free parking is offered as well as free general admission, however the cost of ride tickets ranges. A single ride ticket is $1.50 per ride. Unlimited ride wristbands cost $37; 20 ride tickets cost $32; 50 ride tickets cost $62. The tickets for rides are sold online or on site daily.
The Oviedo Mall Carnival is run by “Dreamland Amusements,” which began serving communities in 2009 and is owned by Kathryn and Bob DeStefano.
“Our boss and his wife started this carnival all by themselves,” Christy Richardson, who works for the carnival, said. “During Christmas, they would set up one or two rides in their backyard, like a neighborhood thing… I love working for them, they’re a great family.”
The carnival features a variety of rides, such as “The Rockstar,” which is a classic carnival ride themed like a rock n’ roll guitar that spins you around, and “Alien Invasion,” which is another classic also known as the “Gravitron” that shows the true power of inertia with how fast riders are spun repeatedly.
The carnival is also home to a variety of carnival games such as classic basketball shooting, duck cup pong, break a bottle and balloon popping that you can play to win prizes. However, the prices for these games can become high. For example, five shots in the basketball game is around $10, and seven shots goes up to $20.
Since admission is free, everything costs money. While there are deals to be had, the prices can add up. “I think the food is really overpriced as well as the games– I spent 20 bucks on this one small stuffed animal, but for the tickets and the wrist bands it’s a good deal,” Casey, an Oviedo resident attending the carnival said.
Overall, the Oviedo Carnival is a family friendly experience suitable for all ages and has a variety of activities to fill your time. It will be open until this Sunday, and it comes to town every single year.
