The Hoppings announces 42 rides for big June return to…

The Hoppings announces 42 rides for big June return to Newcastle Town Moor

There's not long to go before The Hoppings makes its eagerly-awaited return to Newcastle after an absence of two years.

The much-loved funfair, which had been cancelled since 2019 due to the pandemic, soon will be taking shape on the Town Moor in readiness for its June 17-25 run. And no doubt families who have missed the annual treat, which has been a North East tradition for generations, can't wait.

The Hoppings - Europe's largest travelling funfair - is now run by Crow Events which had hoped to bring it back last year, until ongoing Covid restrictions ruled that out. Since then, it has been planning a comeback in style for 2022 - which marks the fair's 140-year anniversary - and is promising it will be bigger and better.

It has a new website, with additions such as a countdown clock and a facility to pre-book parking before making a trip. And this Monday, Crow Events is also revealing the list of rides that will be coming to the Town Moor - and it includes a newly-designed ride called Super Trooper. More new additions will be announced in the run-up to the opening day.

Crow Events has taken over from The Freeman as operators of The Hoppings and it says it intends to make up for lost time by offering some of Europe’s “biggest, fastest and wildest rides”. Among the high-octane experiences will be the Reverse Bungee, which catapults the brave 150ft into the air with a whopping 4.8G force, and the Ice Jet which is described as a turbo-charged version of a Waltzer.

In all, there will 450 attractions in place by June 17 and the rides revealed range from traditional favourites to enough adrenaline-fuelled aerial experiences to satisfy the most demanding of thrill-seekers, including the likes of the white-knuckle Tagada, Extreme and Star Flyer. There also will be classics such as the Ghost Train, Dodgems, Fun House and Magic Mouse Rollercoaster plus rides for the very young.

Ryan Crow, of Crow Events, said the team is very excited to be bringing the event back home. “This will be the first time The Hoppings has been at the Town Moor since 2019 and we’ve been working tirelessly to bring the most fantastic line-up of some of Europe’s top attractions,” he said.

“We know people will have really missed it and so we’re determined to make this year one that everyone will really remember.” Details of new additions for this year are set to be announced soon. Here's what has been revealed so far: