Carnival Opens at South County Mall

The carnival officially opened Friday and will be on the parking lot until May 13.

The rides and food, run by North American Midway Entertainment, will open at 5 p.m. every weekday and at noon on the weekends. 

Closing time depends on the weather, but could be as late as midnight or 1 a.m. on the weekends, engineer Michael Hupalo said. 

The carnival will feature typical fair food with funnel cakes, hot dogs, cotton candy and pizza. 

Hupalo said one of the most popular rides is back, the Spinout.

"You go upside-down and it's on a turntable so you're traveling on three planes," he said. 

Parking and entry is free, and patrons can buy tickets for rides; $1.25 for a single, $25 for 22 tickets and $60 for 55 tickets. Festival-goers can also buy an unlimited ride wristband for $23 on the weekends and $20 on the weekdays.

The mall has been hosting the carnival for the last six years, Hupalo said. 

The entertainment company is making one stop in St. Louis before heading to Kansas.