It was a trip back in time for carnival goers as hundreds attended the North American debut of Carnivale Lune Bleue in Kars, south of Ottawa Friday night.
Historical experts helped to design the event to revive the charm of the 1930s with authentic carny games, a wooden carousel from 1938 and a Ferris wheel from 1917.
There are fire eaters, magicians, stilt walkers, giant snakes, tarot readers and cirque performers, some of who trained with the Cirque du Soleil and Ringling Brothers.
For history buffs, there is also a carnival artefacts museum.
"I had not seen all the lights up and when it came out, I almost cried. It was just beautiful. The ambience, the magic, it really does take you back in time," Carnivale Lune Bleue founder Wayne Van Der Graaff said at the launch.
Kars was chosen as the location to be historically accurate, as 1930s-style carnivals were usually held in a rustic location on the edge of the city.
Multiple shows are held throughout the day every day except Sundays and Mondays. Tickets start at $40 and the carnival runs until September 6.
