Carnival's razzle-dazzle hard to ignore

MOSES LAKE - Flashing lights, high-speed twirls, loud noises and overpriced tickets are enough to turn any grown-up off.

But to those who are young, or young at heart, those things can be magical, and worth waiting for all year.

Davis Shows Northwest's carnival at the Grant County Fair brings people out in droves, young and old alike.

"I enjoy watching the people and watching the kids," said carnival worker Kathleen Little of Moses Lake. "The kids are definitely No. 1. And I like watching the looks on their faces. When they win, they get a big ol' smile on their face and their eyes light up."

Little worked on the midway, where games involve throwing darts at balloons, hoop shoots, water pistols and faux-fishing are the norm.

And while cynics may call the games rigged, dozens of children walked away with prizes Wednesday night.

Including William Hays, 8, and his sister Ryan, 6, both of Moses Lake, who were outside of the fishing booth.

William said his favorite part was the rides.

"The best ride I like is the Pharaoh's Fury," he said, referring to a large boat-like device that swings to and fro like a pendulum.

Ryan, on the other hand, had a different response as to her favorite part of the carnival:

"Everything," she said, while holding up a stuffed plush doggie she had just won.

But the carnival wasn't the only thing that drew the siblings to the fair.

Both children placed in the tractor pull earlier Wednesday.

Marian Spencer, also of Moses Lake, brought her three grandchildren out to the fair that night.

"They are having a ball," she said. "I love to spoil my grandsons."

But not everyone braves the dust, noise and optic-overload at the carnival for rides or games.

"We pretty much just come here to hang out with friends and to walk around," said Austin Davisson of Moses Lake. "We don't really ride rides, but it's more because everyone's out here, so we might as well come."

Andrea Weger, also of Moses Lake, came out for fair food and to hang out with friends.

James Glencoe, also of Moses Lake, had an even simpler response:

"I decided to come and get out of the house," he said.