AH, THE MIDWAY: A magical land where dreams are inflated to the size of a giant plush banana—and crushed in three tosses or less. But carnival pro Paul Smith, who has worked fairs for more than half a century, might just get you to a bonus round with these prize-winning secrets.
Prize patrol. “Rigged games? Maybe in the ’50s,” Smith says, laughing. He notes that roughly a third of players take home a prize. “We want you to win.” Kiddie games are almost a sure bet. “They’re always going to win something at games like the duck pond,” he says.
Be a star. On the BB gun game, don’t shoot directly at the star. “Shoot around it so the whole thing drops,” Smith advises. For the best odds, try the ring toss. “Believe it or not, that game gets more winners than you’d expect.”
Join the fun. Play the water-gun race when it’s crowded—six players or more gets you a bigger prize and a choice of prizes. And don’t be afraid to ask the operator for help. “They practice constantly during slow times,” Smith says. “They know how to win.”
Once you've tried your luck at the games, don't miss the rides that define the midway.