There’s the spinning Sizzler ride, the gravity-defying Zipper, those adorable twirling Berries, and of course, a classic Ferris wheel.
In fact, the latest carnival to roll into Edmonton looks very much like any other carnival except for one major difference - the whole production is powered entirely by renewable energy.
Billing itself as the “world’s first green carnival,” the organizers behind “Sustainival” have returned to Edmonton for a four-day fair in the parking lot at South Edmonton Common.
The environmentally-friendly carnival is offering the usual rides, midway games, live performances and greasy food.
That fatty food plays an important role in keeping the fun times going because the vegetable oil used to cook up those salty French fries is converted into fuel to power the rest of the carnival.
Not only do they use the recycled vegetable oil, the organizers also make use of wind and solar power for energy.
One of the co-founders of Sustainival, Antoine Palmer, told CTV Edmonton on Thursday that the event runs on approximately one megawatt of power, which he said is roughly the same amount of energy used to power about 900 homes.
“If we can run this for four days on waste vegetable oil, there are a lot of things that can be done with renewable energy,” Palmer said.
In addition to the approximately 40 rides and typical carnival attractions, Sustainival also provides an educational platform for attendees to learn about clean energy from a number of vendors and exhibitors.
Participants can also take a tour of the Green Homes Exhibit, visit the Green Car Show or try their hand at the Green Beast Eco Challenge (an “Amazing Race” type of competition).
“When people come they get to see what’s happening in their own backyard, support local initiatives and get involved,” Palmer said.
The first full-scale Sustainival took place in Fort McMurray, Alta. in 2013. Since then, the event has expanded to other cities in the province, including Edmonton and Lethbridge.
Edmonton’s Sustainival runs from June 8 to June 11. Admission to the grounds is free and tickets for the rides or day passes can be purchased on site.
With a report from CTV Edmonton’s Graham Neil
