Carnival Time in Richmond!

With winter retreating and temperatures beginning to rise, it’s time to head outside for some family-friendly fun! And that means a visit to the city’s Lansdowne Centre Spring Carnival––a pop-up midway tradition, co-hosted with West Coast Amusements, that’s returning for its annual thrill-a-minute run from March 29 to April 14 this year.

Looking for fun-tastic fairground rides, colourful games and temptingly tasty treats? Pick a date or two and you’ll soon be hopping on the Sizzler, Carousel or Ferris Wheel, trying to win an oversized plushy animal or happily abandoning your diet for some corn dogs and cotton candy. Looking for the inside track on what to expect in 2024? Read on for our handy tips and info.

FOR FANS OF GREAT VIEWS

Ease yourself in this year with one of the carnival’s comparatively gentle rides. A West Coast Amusements favourite, the lofty Ferris Wheel towers over the carnival’s parking lot site—located just a few steps from the Canada Line’s Lansdowne Station––and gives you the chance to slowly check out the fairground and the city centre from above. An ideal option for families who want to take a leisurely ride together, we also love hopping on this ride after dark when its twinkling neon lights create a magical glow.

FOR INSTANT THRILL FANS

Now that your stomach is primed for serious swirling, there are several ways to crank it up. Groans, giggles and G-force are the adrenaline-fueled common denominators on rides like the Sizzler and the Tornado, where you whizz around and up and down in your seat. We’re also big fans of the carnival’s black-tentacled Spider, which whisks you like an egg in an omelette bowl––it’s the kind of ride your stomach wants you to stop but your brain can’t wait to get back on.

FOR SCREAMERS

Many fairground fans aren’t content until they’ve screamed their lungs out. And that’s the point of several of the attractions that typically arrive at the carnival every year. Zero Gravity churns you like a T-shirt on a washing machine spin cycle, while Super Shot eases you to a great height before dropping you (and eventually your stomach) like a stone. But it’s the Zipper that triggers the shrillest midway shrieks: who doesn’t want to climb into a tiny cage that tumbles, gyrates and spins in the air until almost everyone pleads for mercy?

FOR FRIGHT FANS

The best fairgrounds aren’t only about physical thrills. This year’s carnival has walk-through attractions such as the obstacle course Cuckoo Haus­­—complete with moving walkways, spinning beer barrel walls and wacky Bavarian beer hall artwork. But it’s the Dark Ride Haunted House that calls many from beyond the grave. Guarded by a warty witch, your car careens through the inky blackness, passing pop-up zombies, mummies and a vampire or two. Expect lots of screams and shrieks, not all of which are yours.

FOR KIDS

There’s a great array of child-friendly rides here every year, ranging from a traditional Carousel to the Choo Choo Charlie train ride and the bright-red Berries, where you climb inside a strawberry for a smile-triggering whirl.  But the rides that make us wish we were kids again are Monster Truck—a merry-go-round of chunky-wheeled SUVs—and Charlie Chopper, where you pilot a helicopter as it takes off, spins and lands.

FOR GAME FANS

To qualify as a proper midway, there should also be lots of opportunities to win big (and we mean big). In fact, if you think you don’t need a humungous stuffed unicorn with a rainbow-striped horn and swirling googly eyes, think again. Every year, there’s a great range of carnival games to check out here, inviting you to shoot, bowl, hook a duck, dart a balloon and much more. Just remember that if you snag a stuffed elephant that’s the size of an actual elephant, you’ll have to carry it around all day.

FOR FAIRGROUND FOODIES

Carnival cuisine is also essential to your visit. Sidestep dinner and you’ll be able to (almost) guiltlessly nibble on poutine, candy apples, corn dogs and those freshly-made, must-eat mini donuts. Pro-tip: it’s probably best to visit the food stands after you ride the Zipper.

And if you’re hungry for more substantial dishes, don’t forget that Lansdowne Centre’s food court and restaurants are just a short walk away and offer a full menu of diverse options––although hours may differ from those of the carnival.

IF YOU GO:

The 2024 Lansdowne Centre Spring Carnival runs from March 29 to April 14 and is located a few steps from Canada Line’s Lansdowne Station. Entry is free, while ride coupons cost $1.50 each—each ride requires between three and six coupons per person. You can also buy a Red Book of 20 coupons for $27 or a Blue Book of 40 coupons for $48. Alternatively, purchase a $45 wristband, which includes access to all rides for one day.

The dates and times for the 2024 carnival are listed below. Keep in mind that hours may change due to weather and guest attendance numbers.

• Friday March 29 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Saturday March 30 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Sunday March 31 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Monday April 1 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Tuesday April 2 (CLOSED)
• Wednesday Apr 3 (3:00pm to 10:00pm)
• Thursday April 4 (3:00pm to 10:00pm)
• Friday Apr 5 (3:00pm to 10:00pm)
• Saturday April 6 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Sunday April 7 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Monday April 8 (CLOSED)
• Tuesday April 9 (CLOSED)
• Wednesday April 10 (3:00pm to 10:00pm)
• Thursday Apr 11 (3:00pm to 10:00pm)
• Friday April 12 (3:00pm 10:00pm)
• Saturday April 13 (noon to 10:00pm)
• Sunday April 14 (noon to 6:00pm)

Closing times are approximate and are dependent on weather and guest attendance.

Last Updated on March 19, 2024 by Tourism Richmond