As the Grape Festival returns to Lodi today, so do fair-goers’ favorite carnival rides, courtesy of Butler Amusements.
For a bird’s eye view of the festival, start off with the Century Wheel. The towering traditional wheel dominates the Midway, taking gondolas 70 feet into the air and offering sweeping views of the action.
The Century Wheel was recently equipped with new LED lighting, allowing it to use less energy while it puts on a spectacular light show, Butler said.
Another returning favorite that flies high above the festival — but with a lot more adrenaline for thrill-seekers — is Vertigo. Towering 100 feet in the air, Vertigo takes traditional carnival swings up to a new level. The ride seats 24 passengers at a time in pairs, and spins high above the festival.
Other returning favorites include:
Airstrike: A high-energy thrill ride for all ages, Airstrike features eight spherical passenger vessels that hold up to four passengers each. A centrally located steering wheel gives riders control over how fast they spin as the ride lifts each vessel 7 1/2 feet into the air at a 20-degree tilt.
Invader: Imported from England, the Invader towers 45 feet in the air, spinning at 24 RPM ...