“What’s going on?” I asked as I tried to lick marshmallow off my finger.
“Follow me.” Jaxson pushed through the milling crowd to the long stretch of grass that was blocked off by a line of red ribbon. I would never have made it through the press, but people seemed to melt away as if he were death walking among them.
A few car horns honked, and a couple people began chanting as the sun reached the tops of the distant buildings and trees. Soon, the chant swelled through the crowd: “Sun—down. Sun—down. Sun—down.” Over and over.
The words thundered like drums, and car horns erupted from the side streets. It felt like the whole city was chanting, and I couldn’t help the euphoria rising in my chest.
“What’s going on?” I shouted above the din.
Jaxson seemed mildly irritated. “Watch.”
As the crown of the sun slipped below the horizon, the chant reached a fever pitch and cascaded into wild cheers as twilight took over the sky.
Then, as quickly as the din had started, a hush fell over the Midway, and the last echoes of the car horns died away. The air vibrated with magic and anticipation.
I craned my neck, trying to understand what all the fuss was about. Then I saw it—a blue spark zipping down the Midway, leaving a crackling line of energy in its wake. With a burst of electricity that I could feel dancing across the crowd, thousands of sparkling lines spread outward, tracing patterns and squares above the expanse of grass. The earth shook, and a tsunami of sensations washed over me—a cacophony of color, noise, taste, and scent that my mind was too overwhelmed to separate.
A wave of pure magic.
My heart raced. I’d never felt anything like it.
All along the Midway, glowing blue pavilions sprang from the ground like mushrooms. Bursts of crackling magic exploded in the air like fireworks, and in the center of it all, a sparkling blue wheel formed, spinning on end—a floating Ferris wheel. With a crack of thunder, the pavilions turned solid and took on color, and where there had only been grass before, a massive carnival filled the Midway.
The crowd cheered and stampeded over the tape boundaries and into the fair.
“Ho-ly shit,” I whispered as eager people shoved past me. “That was insane. This is insane.”
“Try not to get crushed,” Jaxson said. “And welcome to the Full Moon Fair.”
We pushed our way into the fairgrounds, and my mind struggled to make sense of the riotous colors, sights, and sounds.
“This is all…magic? It just appears out of nowhere?”
“Seven nights every two months, right around the time of the full moon. Hence the name.”
I shook my head, simply unable to wrap my mind around the idea of a whole fair disappearing and reappearing out of nothingness.
Food vendors, exhibits, rides, and shops packed the Midway edge to edge. Thousands of lightbulbs floated overhead independent of any wires. They bobbed gently in the breeze and bathed the fair with warm, cheery light.
I slowly turned. “What is all this?”
A column of smoke streamed up out of the ground, and a brightly dressed man popped into existence. He removed his hat and bowed. “Welcome to the Magic Side World’s Fair, held continuously since 1893! Visit merchants representing every magical city in the world! Behold monsters from deep in the South American jungle!”
Jaxson motioned for me to follow. “Don’t ask questions about the fair. It summons carnival barkers, a type of demon that thrives on attention. They’re hard to shake. Don’t make eye contact.”
I hurried after him as the barker chased behind. “Excuse me, miss, if you are looking for wonder, you can find it here! Along with bizarre magic items, foods you never imagined, and entertainment around every bend!”
Jaxson growled at the barker and
pointed at a long-haired man walking in the opposite direction. “That guy over there needs to know what booths are around here.”
The barker hesitated for a second, then scuttled over to the unfortunate man and began pointing out nearby pavilions. “Hello, sir! Are you in need of assistance? Make sure you don’t miss the fine cask ales from Guild City or the world’s largest pumpkin from Magic’s Bend!”
Jaxson locked me with his eyes. “Follow me. Don’t run off, and don’t ask questions. The fortune teller has a tent beside the Egyptian village.”
Egyptian village?
A dozen questions died on my lips as I hurried in his wake past woodcarvers selling broomsticks and booths full of potions. It was so unfair—there I was, at possibly the most amazing carnival on earth, and I was stuck with the self-appointed fun police.