New rides and foods a hit at this year’s Queen City Exhibition

The Queen City Exhibition is back for another action-filled week.

The air is filled with screams of joy and the smells of mini donuts and corn dogs.

A new feature at this year’s exhibition is the X Drive, which spins riders around in all directions. Dakota Robinson and her friends were some of the first in line to try it out.

“It’s actually ridiculously fun,” Robinson said. “You flip around in circles, and the breeze is really nice on a hot day!”

A new feature at the QCX is the X Drive! It spins you around in all directions. I was far too scared to get on it myself but ride goers say it was a blast! @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/ky04CgMmBS

— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) July 31, 2024

The group of four were screaming with excitement the whole time.

“Sometimes I can feel my heart drop into my stomach,” she said, “but this one was actually way too fun! I wasn’t scared at all.”

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Her friend Lucas Wudrich was also brave enough to try the ride.

“We weren’t too scared about it,” he said. “The best part about is was the bit of the whiplash that you got. It hurts a little, but it’s fun!”

That didn’t stop the group from getting in line to ride the X Drive again.

“It’s like doing flips – back flips, cartwheels, and everything – while you’re spinning,” Wudrich said. “It’s really fun!”

Greg Korek, vice president of client relations at North American Midway Entertainment, said the ride is definitely going to be a fan favourite.

“You kinda lose a little bit of direction, which way is the ground and which way is the sky,” he said. “It’s really a thrill in every sense of the word.”

Greg Korek has been a part of the exhibition circuit for nearly 50 years. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

He assured riders it’s a good experience, even for those with a weak stomach.

“This is not a throwing-up type ride,” he said. “It’s more of a dizzying experience … It’s a great ride; it’s been very popular with us.”

Kroek said screaming on rides is a big part of the fun.

“People are screaming to release some of that tension that they have of getting on the ride, ‘cause there’s some anxiety, probably, before you get on it,” he said. “Screaming releases that tension and then you start having fun, and you scream because you’re having so much fun!”

Yummy food, with a twist

Whether you love sweet, savoury, sour or all things spicy, there’s something for your taste buds at the Queen City Exhibition.

Chaminda Ambagaspitiye is the REAL District’s executive chef.

This year he brought back two of his popular creations: the perogie stack and the cheeseburger stack.

Chaminda Ambagaspitye is the REAL District’s executive chef. He’s the man behind two popular items at the QCX, the prairie perogie stack and the cheeseburger stack. @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/Is85UpHcKJ

— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) July 31, 2024

“We’ve had fantastic feedback for it,” he said. “It’s 10 pieces of perogies and 10 pieces of sausage. We put it on a stick and we garnish it with sour cream and green onions. The mini cheeseburger slider is garnished with some more cheese sauce and Doritos.”

Both meals are served on a stick, making them perfect for walking around the fair.

“It’s midway food, so it’s easy to carry around and easy to share,” Ambagaspitiye said.

Chaminda Ambagaspitiye is the REAL District’s executive chef who helped curate two food items that are perfect for on-the-go. Here he is pictured with his creation, the perogie stack. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Ambagaspitiye gave a special shout out to all the farmers who help him make his unique creations.

As a chef, he’s a big fan of food. He’s proud of his own creations, but has his own favourites when it comes to fair food.

“I really like my two items, but I also love corn dogs, onion blossom and mini donuts. Those are my favourite too,” he said.

But the exhibition is about more than just food for the chef.

“It’s the time of the year to come outside with the family, enjoying and sharing food,” he said. “It’s all about spending time with the family at the fair.”

–with files from 980 CJME’s Kaleb Sebastian