The first midway of the year opens Thursday at Mayfair mall, with rides booked onto the site for the first time in the shopping centre’s 59-year history.
Spring Fair at Mayfair opens at 3 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot near the junction of Blanshard and Finlayson streets, and will include rides, games and food.
Amusement park favourites such as the Sizzler, the Zipper and bumper cars are among the dozen rides and activities being offered through the four-day run.
The fair is open until 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and until 6 p.m. on Sunday. There is no admission fee to enter the site, but ride coupons are $1.25 apiece, with each ride requiring between three and six coupons.
“Mayfair is pretty busy, so we were only allowed a certain square footage,” said co-owner Tarah Hauser of West Coast Amusements, which operates the event. “But with kiddie rides for kids and thrill rides for teens, there’s really something for everyone.”
West Coast Amusements also runs midways at Esquimalt’s Buccaneer Days (May 13-15) and Langford’s Luxton Spring Fair (May 20-23).
Victoria has not had an event of this kind for decades, in part due to a lack of space. “We have been trying for years to do something in Victoria,” she said. “We are hoping it tickles everyone’s fancy that we’re there.”
West Coast Amusements reached out to 1,000 nearby residents weeks ago, alerting them to the event, Hauser said. The amplified sound will be shut down by 10 p.m., so she does not expect the event to be disruptive. The footprint will be reduced by production vehicles and gear being stored off-site at the Luxton Fair Grounds. Security will be on site and all operations will adhere to municipal bylaws.
Spring Fair at Mayfair was organized after a change in ownership at the shopping centre, Hauser said. Real estate investment company Central Walk purchased the shopping centre in 2020 and was instrumental in bringing the fair to fruition. Central Walk also owns Nanaimo’s Woodgrove Centre, where West Coast Amusements staged a similar fair April 7-10.
“They are really excited and really wanted to bring us in,” Hauser said. “They are very community-oriented and want to provide things that will bring people together. This was something they had at the top of their list.”
For tickets, visit West Coast Amusement's website.
Midway hours of operation
Thursday — 3 to 10 p.m.
Friday — 3 to 10 p.m.
Saturday — Noon to 10 p.m.
Sunday — Noon to 6 p.m.
