Konga and Jumbo give O.C. Fair riders a new lift

The Orange County Fair has more than 60 rides in its lineup this year, two of which are making their debuts at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.

Ray Cammack Shows, or RCS, a contractor that runs the carnival, brought in the jungle-themed Konga, a bench-style ride by manufacturer KMG that hauls riders up and down in a circular motion and sprays water in front of a colorful backdrop.

Riders must be at least 48 inches tall but no taller than 75 inches. Konga is a less intense option than the similar, but faster moving, Flying Dutchman ride.

The other new ride is the circus-themed Flying Jumbo, by European designer Kolmax Plus. It is in the children’s carnival section.

Flying Jumbo participants ride elephants that soar in a circle and can be controlled to go up and down. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to go on alone, and those between 39 and 48 inches must have a supervising companion.

Chris Lopez, vice president of RCS, said the company picks new rides based partly on their capacity. The idea to get as many riders on as possible.

“We also want something that will give a thrill” for all ages, he added.

The rides’ LED technology makes them look stunning at night, he said. “It’s just beautiful to watch.”

RCS, which has been an O.C. Fair contractor for more than 15 years, also runs the midway games, of which there are 58 this summer. There are two new ones, Lopez said. Both are water races with guaranteed prizes to the winners.

RCS, which also has 22 food stands, is a major presence at the fair. At any given time, Lopez said, there are about 400 people bearing the RCS logo on their uniforms. Two hundred to 300 of those are local residents hired for the Orange County Fair run.

“It’s a big partnership,” Lopez said, “and it’s a big boost to the local economy. We love being here.”

The fair is open Wednesdays through Sundays through Aug. 12. For more information, visit ocfair.com/oc-fair.

Bradley Zint is a contributor to Times Community News.