Photo via Voodoo Music Experience

Prized Reptiles, Resting Above a Large Rabbit Pen

As festival-goers trickled in for the first day of this year's Voodoo Music Experience, they noticed new vendors, heady art and colorful rides.  Although carnival rides are not new to the fest new rides are added every year.  After the unfortunate demise of Jazz Land, one weekend at Voodoo is the best bet to get your amusement park kicks.

Ring of Fire, Orbiter and Cliff Hanger are only a few of the many rides thrill seeking festies can ride to pump up their adrenaline and get ready for a night of music.  In the early afternoon rides looked a little vacant, but as the night wore on people of all ages and costumes lined up and strapped in for some nighttime fun. 

“By nighttime I’m gonna have [the ride] full,” says Auneay, operator of Cliff Hanger.  

Auneay leads a group to the ride and tells them to lie flat on their stomach.  He locks them in, cranks the lever and off they go, flung into the air.  Below, carnival lights glow bright and the Avett Brothers hum in the background.  

Rides range from the classic Ferris Wheel for the timid riders who just want a pleasant view to Extreme, a swinging pendulum that whips riders back and forth at full speed.  With a name like Extreme perhaps wait to scarf the lucky dog until after riding.       

“It has grown a lot.  [I’ve] been here for ten years,” says Auneay.  Every year he has watched the ride portion of the festival expand, which means one thing.  The rides are a hit.  

The Orbiter, which moves exactly as it sounds, sends riders from one end of the festival to the next.  If you can keep your eyes open it gives occupants an incredible view of the festival grounds. 

As the day comes to an end, Auneay gets into the Halloween spirit and mans the Cliffhanger as a werewolf. 

Ticket booths are stationed next to each ride.  All rides cost four dollars or four tickets.  If Halloween doesn’t scare you, hop on the Extreme and see if that doesn’t incite a scream or two.      

Any quality carnival includes some games of chance, and the most notable by far was the "Win Live Rabbits and Iguanas," challenge at Voodoo. Surprisingly, winning a live animal isn't as difficult as one may guess. 

Participants must throw a ping pong ball into one of the four relatively sizeable dishes floating in a kiddie pool in the center of a large rabbit cage, and many people went home with new companions. NoDef saw a couple of winners proudly wearing their new reptile buddies at Neil Young, and others made quick friends with their new bunnies.