Carnival rides have always been one of the highlights of the Royal Easter Show. This year, the traditional family day-out has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of the global pandemic, but that doesn't mean you can't still have your thrills across the long weekend.

In recognition of the years of working together, the Royal Easter Show's management have allowed Mahons Amusements to forge ahead and bring their carnival rides to ASB Showgrounds this Easter. The Auckland Easter Mega Fun Carnival will run from the evening of Thursday, April 1 through to Monday, April 5.

Entry will be free to all ages, and while there will be no animals or stage entertainment, New Zealand's biggest lineup of carnival rides and games will be back as usual, with all the favourite rides including the country's largest carousel.

There will be something for all ages, with children's rides like the tea cups and giant slide sitting alongside the ferris wheel, dodgem cars and ghost train. For thrill seekers there will be the 'Hurricane', 'Gravitron', 'Scream Machine' and 'Turbo Boost' — which spins up to 120 kilometres per hour. Mahons Amusements is also bringing its huge range of sideshow games with clowns, darts, skittles, catch a fish and pop-a-balloon all coming, as well as your classic range of carnie food.

Visitors can come and go as they please over the Easter weekend. The Auckland Easter Mega Fun Carnival will run from 6.30–10pm on April 1, 11am to 10pm April 2–4, and 11am to 6.30pm April 5.