Thrills and chills

HUGHESVILLE - Entertainment and exhibits may change from year to year, but one thing remains a constant at the Lycoming County Fair - the thrills.

Thrill seekers are able to get their fill from rides that go up, down, around or all three at once.

"They like that rush," said Jimmy Anderson, operator of Zero Gravity.

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CRAIG S. McKIBBEN JR./Sun-Gazette
The Zipper spins people around in a frenzied ride at the county fair.

While there are classic rides, such as a merry-go-round and Ferris wheel, Anderson thinks fair-goers are looking for excitement.

Zero Gravity has riders spin around and around while the wheel moves up and down.

"I guess they like the rush from spinning," he said.

But rides aren't just for the older crowd. Patricia Davis was operating Space Odyssey this past week, which she said sees a lot of young children as customers.

The ride simulates an adventure in space. Davis said a movie accompanies the ride and gives the riders an opportunity not only to explore outer space but to meet up with some aliens.

"It amuses the little ones. They get a kick out of it," Davis said.

And for families who would rather not sit for an adventure, a mirror maze is up and running. After making it through the first floor of the maze, walkers head up to a room full of "wacky mirrors." The mirrors make participants taller, shorter or wider.

"It's an adventure and there's a slide at the end," said operator Alexander King on what the children like most about the experience.

But no fair is complete without the thrill of victory.

Games with darts, rings and baseballs all promise that if an individual is precise enough they could go home with a prize.

But one game is a staple of every carnival and fair around - the high striker.

The game is simple: hit the end of a lever as hard as you can with a hammer and try to ring the bell at the top of a tower. Lisa King, who runs the game, said even though the game's been around for so long, it still is popular.

"It's a skill. It's a challenge. It's definitely old-school," she said.

King has three different towers for young children, women and men. With a steady stream of customers, King said they're always ecstatic when they play.

"They're excited. I had a woman pay for three hits. She hit (the top) every time. She was jumping up and down," King said.

But rides and games aren't the only attractions that can give fair-goers thrills.

Salli Page is a third-generation clairvoyant reader and is offering her services to those who wish to know about their future.

"I started when I was 7 years old," Page said, noting that one is born with her skills.

Page reads palms and tarot cards for customers. She said in some instances things just appear to her.

"Sometimes we can hear a name that means something to them," Page explained.

Her stand sees a lot of different type of customers, and most come back after the initial reading.

"I get a lot of repeated crowds and some who are doing it for fun," Page said. "It's something different."

Page said she can find things out about one's love, hopes, dreams, money and others.

There are plenty of skeptics, Page said, but she encourages them to try it and see what they think afterward.

"Some people are scared (after the reading)," Page said.