Fall Fair this year certainly had its highs and lows. It wasn’t bad, nor was it uninteresting. It actually got many thinking about the future of the event. It has been rough out here, there’s no denying such a fact. Weather, specifically, always seems to be the downfall of the long-awaited day, preventing the rides from running. On occasion the rides are in commission, but they typically cater to smaller children, leaving many older kids unsatisfied.
I see it – the vision. Having more rides meant for smaller kids means more money, which would be ideal for fundraising purposes. However, it would be smart to also appeal to highschool students. What’s needed for the fall fair is something to appease the older kids. I talked to fellow highschool students and Fall Fair attendees, Sophia Diaz and Siyoon Jeong. They had much to say concerning the pressing matter.
“Fall Fair has kinda been outgrown by us highschoolers. If we can do something that makes us feel like a part of it, that’d be good. Especially without the rides, it felt like there was nothing to do,” Sophia said.
She suggests that in order to cater to older attendees, there has to be a balance of activities. Many of the people who go to the Fall Fair are high school students, the majority of such, there to play in a sports game or run a booth. Thus, the school needs to cater to the largest demographic in attendance. If for some reason the weather were to cancel the rides, like it has for the past few years, an alternate plan must be readily put into place. At one point in the abundant history of the Fall Fair, there were activities such as the dunk tank, carnival games, and more places and things to explore as a whole. Re-implementing these systems and activities would result in a more enjoyable experience for every single age that attends the yearly fundraiser, including teens.
“We need more variety when it comes to rides. The reason The Gravitron and The Zipper are so popular is because they’re unique,” Siyoon said. Ah, yes, The zipper and Gravitron, standing tall amongst the Dizzy Dragon and the Smiley Swing in all their glory. The sheer magnitude of joy these two simple contraptions bring to the event is beyond compare, exciting children of all ages. One may ask why these rides happen to be amongst the most popular fair rides on Long Island. Teenagers, at least a large majority of them, don’t want to indulge in an attraction that: 1) has a short duration; 2) isn’t thrilling enough; 3) has a long wait time. These two rides, but The Zipper Specifically, hits two out of the three criteria. Its duration comes in at an extremely solid 2.5 minutes, and it offers a sufficient amount of adrenaline. The wait time may be a bit lengthy, but that’s simply because it’s too popular for its own good.
Without a doubt, Friends Academy, in order to maintain the noble name of the Fall Fair, should deeply consider bringing beloved rides back to appease the masses of teenagers attending the annual event.
