They might not be the height of fashion and their heyday was the 1960s and 70s but traditional funfairs still know how to pull in the punters.
Alan Cowie’s Mega Value Fun Park at Cambridge Road, Huddersfield, will have seen several thousand people pass through its gates by the time it ends on Sunday.
Alan, a father-of-four, who takes the fair all over the north of England with members of his family, said: “This is the third time we have held it here at this site, business is quite good in Huddersfield. And I expect to see three to four thousand people here from Wednesday to Sunday.
“Just £5 buys you a passport to fun for three hours and everyone seems to agree it is very good value.”
Alan added: “But the standard funfair is on the wane given the technology we have these days. Soon kids will be able to enjoy simulated rides in their bedroom.
“The bigger fairs have a future – I can’t see them ever fading away. It’s the smaller ones that are taking a battering at the moment. It’s a very competitive market. We make a living but we work hard for it.”
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Little seems to have changed over the decades from the 1970s with the same old favourites such as dodgem cars, Hook-a-Duck competitions and simply playing in a sandpit proving as popular as ever.
Nicky Woorall a mother-of-two from Meltham said: “It’s a brilliant bargain. I saw it advertised on the internet and thought it’s a nice cheap day out. There’s quite a few rides and the weather has been good.”
Her eight-year-old daughter, Ella, said she enjoyed going on the Twister while her older brother, 11-year-old Rowan, was delighted with his Spaceship experience.
Laine Regan, 39, of Bradley attended along with his partner Zarina and his nine-year-old daughter Layla.
He said: “Layla pestered us to come and she has had a great time playing around on a water attraction. I don’t normally come to fairs but Layla really wanted to come here.”
Katy Hall, a learning mentor from Dalton arrived with her five-year-old godson and her two-year-old daughter Thea.
She said: “They absolutely love it. As soon as they saw a poster they wanted to come immediately.”
