People of all ages will flock to the street fair’s Wonderland area, located at the 4800 block of Newport Avenue. It’s actually hard to miss, with its colorful inflatables and giant slide setting the tone. Named for a groundbreaking amusement park which once stood in the area more than 100 years ago, Wonderland visitors will find a multitude of attractions to keep the young — and young at heart — occupied the whole day. Parent will find plenty to keep their little ones ages 3 to 10 busy, with something on hand to spark just about any child’s imagination. The star attraction is, as always, the pony rides, sure to elicit a picture-perfect moment. But there will also be toy cars, a bounce house, a merry-go-round and many more smile-inducing activities, making the area a one-stop stop for those with childre. The area’s amenities are also kid friendly, with lots of treats available, from healthy options to summertime favorites like cotton candy and sno cones. There will even be a magician, face painting and mimes to entertain. Meanwhile, the merely young at heart will find attractions such as the aforementioned cliffhanger slide, a rock climbing wall and various inflatable obstacle courses. The activities are not only a lot of fun, but also get the adrenaline pumping. New this year will be the “Rugged Warrior Mega Obstacle Course,” a 120-foot inflatable challenge, with eight separate sections. “Kids are going to be naturally more drawn to them, but they are definitely for all ages,” said Greg Knight, owner of San Diego Kids Party Rentals, which is providing 14 attractions this year.
Also new are the Euro Bungy Trampolines, with up to four guests able to bounce into the air at once. Sure to be among the most popular attractions is the “Wipeout Game,” which features eight contestants trying to avoid a revolving beam and being knocked off a perch. This promises to be almost as much fun to watch as to participate in. “It’s great to see the excitement in peoples face when they are on something new; it’s almost similar to seeing a new ride at Disneyland,” he said. “There is a sense of anticipation. In this case, people have seen Wipeout on TV and think, ‘I could do that.’ Now they can try.”
Knight noted one new attraction he feels will draw particular attention. “You’ve have heard of a mechanical bull? Well, we have a mechanical shark, the only one on the West Coast. It actually fits the OB theme nicely,” he said.
