Mall aims to attract community with events

Carnival goes through weekend

The Yo-Yo swing ride spins in a kaleidoscope of colors during the Happyland carnival at the Capital Mall on Friday evening.
The Yo-Yo swing ride spins in a kaleidoscope of colors during the Happyland carnival at the Capital Mall on Friday evening.

Now through Sunday, customers can take a break from shopping by enjoying carnival rides and festival food at Capital Mall.

The carnival is part of an effort by the mall to increase interaction and inclusion in the community, as well as to increase traffic to the mall. It comes about a month before the Cole County Fair, which also features a carnival.

"It's really an event for the community," said Jamie Reed, the mall's general manager. "We're trying to create new and exciting things to do for the community besides just shopping."

The carnival opened last Friday night and will operate until Sunday. Operating hours are 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5-11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 1-9 p.m. on Sunday. Most rides are between $2 and $4, and wristbands good for unlimited rides are available for $20.

This Saturday, shoppers and attendees can also look at classic cars during a classic car cruise, which will take place from 4-9 p.m., Reed said.

"We want to create a good, positive experience for everybody, and having events like this will bring people back to the mall that might not have been here for the past couple of years," Reed said. "We're trying to really interact, relate and be a part of the community, and these events help us with that."