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Show: Dreamland – The Frosted Fairground
Society: Special Events (British Isles & Eire)
Venue: Dreamland, Margate
Credits: n/a
Type: Sardines
Author: Paul Johnson
Performance Date: 05/12/2015
Dreamland – The Frosted Fairground
Paul Johnson | 09 Dec 2015 16:16pm
As someone who used to spend his childhood holidays in north-east Kent, but now is fast-approaching his fiftieth birthday, Margate’s Dreamland holds some very special memories for me. The eagerly anticipated treatt of every summer holiday for me and my siblings was absolutely the big trip to Dreamland; a place of pure magic! The terrifying Scenic Railway (well, I was seven years old and there were no safety bars back then!), The Rotor (which terrified my family, as they were forced to watch me ride it alone), and the iconic Ken Grief Show at the end of the night (the bit my Dad mostly looked forward to).
How sad it has been to revisit the town in later years, seeing the closed-down shops and the haunting silent shadow of the dormant 95-year-old scenic railway. You can imagine my delight at the news of the park’s reopening earlier this year as Margate began to emerge from hibernation and reclaim the popularity of its golden era. Furthermore, the ‘new’ Dreamland has been re-launched in the same vintage style that it enjoyed forty years ago.
Throughout the whole of December the park is open to the public as the re-launched destination enjoys its first Christmas under ‘The Frosted Fairground’ label. Together with Mini Sardines, we were fortunate indeed to be invited by the park to spend a wonderfully windy December day turning back the clock revisiting times gone by. A visit to Father Christmas and his Elves in the Christmas Grotto will definitely make your child’s day. Mini Sardines was captivated and loved his time with the festive folk.
The fully rebuilt Scenic Railway is simply superb and rightly still enjoys its title as the park’s centrepiece – although the cars do now boast safety bars and the ‘brake man’ who can still be found on each ride. Too young to ride the railway, Mini Sardines’ favourite treat of the day was the colourful giant slide – where he was beside himself with joy. Elsewhere in the park you can find vintage food stands (including a huge hog-roast), a live band stand, and all of Dreamland’s traditional rides including – among many others – the Gallopers (Carousel), Helter Skelter, Dodgems and the 35metre Big Wheel (where the December sea breeze certainly made itself know).
The pleasure park is still a work in progress and, leading up to Dreamland’s centenary celebrations in five years time, many more attractions are promised, all with the vintage theme. The sound of Rock ‘n’ roll and Jazz filling the air is all around and, from our experience, there was a real family-friendly feel everywhere we went. This was never more apparent than through the wonderful attitude presented by the park’s magnificent staff; without exception every single person was friendly, warm and helpful.
Inside and away from the elements the vintage Roller Disco and Penny Arcades apply an unmistakable air of nostalgia. They even have my favourite vintage pinball machines. For the younger children The Octopus’s Garden provides another creative escape with Sand-pits, Beach Huts, an Arts and Crafts Potting Shed, Circus Tent, and a large indoor Climbing Area complete with cargo nets etc.
I was a child all over again. Margate is on the up – and Dreamland is back!
Highly recommended.
- : admin
- : 05/12/2015