Every Ride on the Midway, Rated by Thrill Level

The carnival midway is the neon-lit, cotton-candy-scented backbone of the Laurel County Fair. Whether you're five years old or fifty, there's a ride for you. Here's our honest assessment of every ride on the 2026 midway, rated on a thrill scale from 1 (gentle) to 5 (you will question your life choices).

The Gentle Ones (Thrill Level: 1–2)

The Carousel (Thrill: 1) — A beautifully painted classic carousel with hand-carved horses. Perfect for toddlers, photo ops, and nostalgic adults. It's the oldest ride on the midway and the most photographed.

Kiddie Swings (Thrill: 1) — Tiny suspended chairs that spin gently in a wide circle about four feet off the ground. The riders look terrified and delighted in equal measure.

The Fun Slide (Thrill: 2) — Giant wavy slide with burlap sacks. Deceptively fast. Adults are allowed and encouraged.

Mini Ferris Wheel (Thrill: 2) — A smaller version of the big wheel, sized for children. Gentle rotation with nice views of the midway.

The Family Zone (Thrill Level: 3)

Bumper Cars (Thrill: 3) — The great equalizer. No skill required, maximum chaos encouraged. The unspoken rule is that you target your own family members.

The Scrambler (Thrill: 3) — Three-armed spinning ride that whips you in unpredictable patterns. Fast enough to be exciting, gentle enough that you'll keep your corn dog down. Probably.

Tilt-a-Whirl (Thrill: 3) — The ride that proves physics can be fun. Spinning, tilting, and completely unpredictable. Every ride is different depending on weight distribution in your car.

The Brave Zone (Thrill Level: 4–5)

The Ferris Wheel (Thrill: 4) — The queen of the midway. Not for the speed, but for the height. When you stop at the very top and your car sways gently in the night breeze, with the entire fairgrounds spread out below you in neon... that's a 4.

The Gravitron (Thrill: 4) — You stand against a padded wall. The ride spins. You stick to the wall. The floor drops. You reconsider your dinner choices. Classic.

The Zipper (Thrill: 5) — The undisputed king of the midway. A long rotating arm with cages that spin independently as the arm rotates. You are upside down, sideways, and terrified for three solid minutes. It is fantastic. Teenagers ride it five times in a row. Adults ride it once and need to sit down.

Pro Tips

Buy the unlimited ride wristband ($25) if you plan to ride more than five times — individual tickets are $1.50 each and most rides cost 4–6 tickets. Bring a portable phone charger — you'll drain your battery on Ferris wheel photos. Ride the big rides before you eat, not after. And if the midway line for the Zipper is too long, come back at 9 PM on a weeknight — it's usually shorter.