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Nightmare Scene As A Ride At The Florida State Fair Gets Stuck Hanging Riders Upside Down

Author Joe Winner
Florida State Fair, Tampa, Florida

Here’s something to think about before you get on that ride at the fair. The Enterprise Ride at the Florida State Fair, which is like a ferris wheel with enclosed swings that rock back and forth as the ride moves. At the peak, the car is briefly upside down. There are no seatbelts on the ride.  Centrifugal force keeps guests pinned to their seats. That is, when the ride is in motion.

Last weekend the ride got stuck in it’s full upright vertical position, leaving some riders hanging upside down.

WFLA.com reached out to the Florida State Fair to ask about what happened with the ride. You can view the full statement below:

“Late Friday afternoon, the Enterprise was operating, and the safety mechanisms were activated, which caused the ride to shut down as designed. We swiftly began exiting guests from the ride, in the most safe and timely manner.  All safety and emergency protocols were followed. A thorough inspection will be conducted into what triggered the safety mechanisms. Out of an abundance of caution, the ride remained closed for the remainder of the Fair.” – FRANK ZAITSHIK, OWNER OF WADE SHOWS & MIDWAY MANAGER OF THE FLORIDA STATE FAIR

One rider wrote on her facebook page.

“Thanking God my friend and I made it home safely tonight. Florida state fair was an absolute nightmare. It’s hard to explain the feeling of fear that took over us today. The ride pictured malfunctioned on us, leaving us stuck in midair upside down, no seat belts with gaps big enough to lose grip and fall. We were hanging on for dear life to the bars as they got us down, without knowing what was to come. I truly can’t describe how it felt to see your life flash before your eyes. God was definitely with us. I’m definitely holding my baby closer tonight.”

In addition,  another posted bruises from the experience. The Enterprise Ride is operated by Wade Shows. However, the Lee County Fair uses Reithoffer, so you won’t be seeing this ride at the fair in Fort Myers.

 

Festivals In Florida In March

One great perk of living in Florida are the year-round festivities and there are some great festivals happening in Florida in March.

Florida is a state known for its great weather, beautiful beaches and lively atmosphere. Because of the warmth we’re lucky to have throughout the year, the Sunshine State is home to a variety of festivals. And there’s a lot to celebrate- everything from food and music to art and culture. There are people that come from all over the world to enjoy these festivals that provide an exciting and unique way to experience Florida’s rich diversity.

While during the summer there’s still plenty to do, prime festival season is during the “cooler” months. No matter what time of year it is, but especially from Fall-Spring, if you’re visiting Florida or a local looking for something to do, you don’t have to look too far. With March right around the corner, you might be starting to plan out your weekends. You’re in luck as there’s some great festivals happening around the state.

FloridaRambler.com has a list of festivals in Florida during the year. While it’s probably hard to list every single one, they feature the big ones.

March 2023 Festivals in Florida:

  • Florida Strawberry Festival

    March 2-12- Plant City

    Similar to the state fair, the Strawberry Festival has agricultural displays, livestock, arts and crafts, local food and a huge carnival midway. But when it comes to entertainment, they’ve got quite a lineup. This year there will be performances that span all genres: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ludacris, Walker Hayes, Halestorm, Willie Nelson, Chris Young, Cece Winans, Wayne Newton, Train and more.

    Find more info here

  • Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

    March 4-5- Tampa

    One of the most prestigious art festivals in the country. Enjoy live music, food, interactive experiences and the work of more than 250 artists.

    Find more info here

  • Grant Seafood Festival

    March 4-5- Grant-Sebastian

    We love our seafood in Florida and this festival has been happening every year since 1966.

    Find more info here

  • Bike Week

    March 3-12- Daytona Beach

    This fest is HUGE. It’s gone on for over 75 years and this year they’re expecting half a million people.

    Find more info here

  • Marathon Seafood Festival

    March 11-12- Marathon

    This is the “original” and most popular seafood fest in The Key’s.

    Find more info here

  • Calle Ocho Festival

    March 12- Miami

    Part of Carnaval Miami, this is the largest Hispanic festival in America. A million people are expected to the event that stretches for 20 blocks with 10 stages. Enjoy food, music and art.

    Find more info here

  • Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

    March 17-19- Winter Park

    This festival is ranked one of the best in the country. Not only is there a lot of high-quality art, but it’s located in a beautiful community and has activities for all ages.

    Find more info here

  • Sunnyland Boat Festival

    March 24-26- Tavares

    This festival is all about antique and classic boats, in fact it’s one of the largest classic wood boat shows in the country with 250-300 restored boats on display in the water. This year will be the fest’s 42nd year.

    Find more info here

  • St. Augustine Lions Spring Festival

    March 25-26- St. Augustine

    The St. Augustine Lions Club seafood festival actually changed its name to the Lions Spring Festival after cancelling it in 2021 due to COVID. Enjoy rides, characters, food, live music and more.

    Find more info here

     

Joe Winner spends his days combing through memes and off beat stories to bring you the side of Florida not always seen.

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