WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT
This annual carnival held on 95th St in Naperville delivers lots of family fun.
Every summer the Wheatland Salem Church hosts a small carnival featuring rides from Windy City Amusements. I created a business page since this takes place every year and there's no listing for the carnival itself (I would've felt weird leaving a review for the church to say "I'm not really into jesus but thanks for the corn dogs!")
The dates changes from year-to-year, but the carnival generally takes place on a weekend in July or August. It's open Friday evening, Saturday all day, and Sunday afternoon. Parking is in the lot behind the church with a security checkpoint and portable bathrooms near the entrance.
Unlimited ride wristbands are $30-35, otherwise prices are $1/ticket with most rides costing either 4 tickets (little kid rides) or 7 tickets (big kid rides). That means a single trip on the Ferris Wheel is $7, and after five "thrilling" rides the wristband's already paid for itself.
My wife played the midway game where you squirt water at a target to move the (in this case, a red fire engine) figurine towards the finish line. Being the sharpshooter she is, she got 1st place! Granted, she was the only one playing, so the prize was awarded by default.....but that's neither here nor there. Point is, we walked away with a plushie!
We got a funnel cake w/strawberries ($12) and a lemon shakeup ($8). There were NO benches to sit at, which meant my poor wife had to sit on a curb and eat her funnel cake a foot off the ground. Corn dogs ($5) are easy to walk with, but a fork-and-knife item like funnel cake needs a solid surface on which to eat it.
* TL;DR*
Who can resist the temptation of neon lights and cotton candy?
After years of driving past it, I'm glad we finally made time to check out this summer carnival. The staff were kind and our brief interactions with the workers were pleasant. There were a few roaming cops, so we felt safe the whole time here. Prices for food, drink, games, and rides were much higher than I expected.
I know the scope is small, so I'll refrain from making any wild ride requests (send the Zipper, Himalaya, Gravitron, and Tilt-A-Whirl!!) or demand that they start serving buttery corn on the cob. I will ask, though, that they provide more benches for guests (anything over zero is an improvement).
My 4yo had a great time here, and I had just as much fun watching him. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have plopped him in the very back row of the Dragon Wagon--his first roller coaster!--as he deemed it "rough". Next time will be smoother buddy, cuz we'll be on the Whizzer @ Great America and I'll be riding with ya! read more