Parked at the intersection of 14th Street and Grand Boulevard, the Ferris wheel known as “Big Eli” towered above Power and Light. The attraction had 16 carts in total to offer riders a scenic view of the downtown skyline.
Kansas City welcomed the return of fall this past weekend, hosting a festival known as Cornucopia KC. This celebration had everything from games to carnival food, and a Ferris wheel making its first-ever appearance in the heart of downtown Kansas City.
With the scent of funnel cake in the air and the adrenaline-fueled shrieks echoing between buildings, this event was an epicenter of fall family fun.
The height of the Ferris Wheel provided a good look at the rest of the festival’s offerings and the crowd making its way into the fair.
Taking a walk towards the game section, I stumbled upon a game of accuracy and concentration known as “Firefly.” The objective: Squirt water into a small target the size of a quarter. First person to fill their target wins.
From the crowd, emerged a group of energetic kids with some good dance moves. They were led by a mascot, advertising G-Class Cuts, a barbershop in KCMO.
“Hoops” was another game to show off players’ free throw skills to earn a prize.
“Cliff Hanger” simulated a high-flying hang glider adventure that brought a smile to any passenger’s face.
As the event came to a close, the final large ride at the end of the street was the “Rockstar.” This ride sent adrenaline junkies rotating into the air, high above the surrounding buildings, on top of a colorful guitar.
Since I skipped breakfast that day, I needed something of sustenance. Naturally, I settled on the carnival classics such as a buttery corn dog, ice-cold Pepsi and funnel cake buried in powdered sugar.
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