Fort Edmonton Park is now working on a vision for the expansion of the 1920s Midway and Exhibition.

The main objective of the expansion is to add historical enhancements and a wider range of amusement choices, resulting in longer, more frequent guest visits. At the same time, consideration is being given to wet and cold weather cover, more permanent indoor spaces, and expansion of staff areas, food services and washrooms - essentials that will allow the midway to be accessible more frequently year round.

Development of more rides, games, and amusements is a primary focus of the vision. The foundation has invested in the restoration of an authentic 1918 Mangels chair-o-plane ride which, when completed, will be located near the carousel. Existing games will be expanded, and additional ones added. There is the potential to add a bug house (mirror maze) and a fun house, each based on historic images; also, to improve the carnival atmosphere with additional lighting, bunting, painted canvas, signage and flags.

Traditionally, however, a midway also included a wide range of live shows and exhibits. The side show, home of perceived "freaks" and oddities, super human feats, slights of hand, and the weird and wonderful, is a rapidly dying tradition that deserves a presence on Fort Edmonton Park's midway. A new tent is intended to hold a permanent exhibition highlighting the history of the side show and typical stars of the traveling carnival midways. More than a exhibition of fat and thin, tall and short, high divers and motor dromes, the tent will be a "five in one" - a two-handed tour between five small stages with startling reveals, living exhibits and exposed gaffs. Jugglers please apply!

Another possible addition is a multipurpose event area that will be divided into tent spaces with a cookhouse at one end and a revue theatre at the other. The cookhouse will offer a perfect place to sit and enjoy a wide range of food and entertainment options: perhaps "housie housie" (bingo) and a fairground organ. The Pepper Box Revue will be a multipurpose venue: by day a kids space with a shadow puppet theatre; by night a draw card for a more adult midway, with bar service and vaudeville and burlesque shows. The dual focus of the midway as a child friendly space by day and an adult venue by night is one of the bases of the vision.

Beyond the midway, the plan looks at other major draw cards. An outdoor maze or cold-air balloon could become destinations in themselves. An event field, based on the one that existed at the Edmonton Fair Grounds, may become an outdoor venue for a Wild West Show, with riding, bow and arrow and shooting tricks; or perhaps a WW1 trench show. Whatever options are incorporated into the plan, there is much to look forward to on the expanded horizon of the Fort Edmonton Park 1920s Midway!

About the author - John King is Creative Director at Artisan Design