The LEGO Friends Magical Funfair collection was introduced this summer with five sets. They are a mix of standard fairground attractions and a magical roadshow featuring an attractive color-scheme (including glow-in-the-dark elements that brings the magic of the sets alive when the lights are off), unique play-features, interesting accessories, and exclusive mini-dolls. So let’s take a look!
The smallest of the sets is the #41686 LEGO Friends Magical Acrobatics with Olivia (with face-paint) and Stella dressed in performance outfits. The set features three acrobatic activities. First of all, when you pull the float, its spinning function allows the acrobatics wheel to turn. The wheel is also removable for more acrobatics action. Mini-dolls can also whirl around the trapeze bar when attached to the hoops, and for a final trick, mini-dolls can teeter along attached to a pair of stilts.
I like that each section of the set has some action feature, and I also like the magician vibe of the girls’ outfits and the general color scheme. This set could be used alone for a smaller performance in Heartlake City, or it could be added to the other LEGO Friends Magical Funfair sets. It comes with 223 pieces and costs $19.99, which I feel is a fair price. If you want to check it out, it’s available at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The #41687 LEGO Friends Magical Funfair Stalls is the second smallest set in the collection featuring several small stalls that can be connected together or used individually around a fairground. The largest of the four separate components is the entrance gate with turnstiles. There is also a ticket window, an ice-cream stall, and a stall with a levitation magic trick. And there is a separate face-paint cart on wheels.
One of the main attractions of this set is its modularity. You can string together the four stalls to create a separate area for the fairgrounds in your LEGO city, or they could be placed around the fairgrounds individually. Another main attraction is the cleverly designed stall with the levitation magic trick that works with a knob at the back that make a horizontally placed mini-doll at the front levitate over the small bed.
The three included characters are Emma (with face-paint), Camila the magician, and Henry the little micro-doll. The set comes with 361 pieces for $29.99. I think it’s worth it if you want to expand your fairground. Otherwise, only the magic trick stall stands out as truly unique. If you want to check it out, it’s available at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The #41688 LEGO Friends Magical Caravan is another smaller set in the collection with a vintage caravan often seen at fairs as well as a fortune teller’s tent with an owl, and Mia and Claire the fortune teller. The caravan is nicely done with latticework shutters and an old-fashioned lantern, and the roof is hinged so you can explore the living quarters inside with a bed, small kitchen, and hidden toilet. Inside the separate tent, there is a crystal ball that is controlled by a twisting function and spins to reveal the future represented by a sad face or happy face. And fairgoers can also consult the wise owl.
This is also a well-designed action-packed set, although I feel that the price of $39.99 is a little high. The set only comes with 348 pieces, and based on the piece-count and what you’re getting overall, it shouldn’t cost more than $30-$35. I can’t see the reason for the higher than normal price, as the set doesn’t contain any special elements. But if you want to take a look, it’s available at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.
Going up to bigger sets with even more action, the #41689 LEGO Friends Magical Ferris Wheel and Slide features a small Ferris wheel with cute, top-hat-style carriages, and there is also a candy stall and various accessories like juggling clubs, a lollipop, a top hat and a fairground map. The three mini-dolls are Mia, Stephanie, and a magician named River.
But the main attraction is the slide with a magical play-feature that make the fairgoers disappear as they descend the spiral slide. How this works is that the bottom of the slide has clever mirrored panels to make the mini-dolls look like they disappear, but they actually exit the slide at the rear to surprise their friends waiting at the front.
The combining a fair ride with magic is a great idea that could entertain both kids and adults. The set comes with 545 pieces and the $59.99 price seems fair for what you get. It’s a good fairground set, and elements could also add visual interest and a bit of action to a LEGO city setting. It’s available at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.
The largest of the five sets is the #41685 LEGO Friends Magical Funfair Roller Coaster. There is a lot going on here, so let’s take a look. Taking center stage is the fabric-roofed big top, the venue for a magic show. You can pretend-play the magician and, with the help of a box with a clever function, make mini-dolls disappear! The second main attraction is the roller coaster that goes around the carnival grounds, complete with cute bunny cars and a camera point. And the third main attraction is a pendulum ride to put mini-dolls in a spin. There is also a popcorn stall, and a bunch of accessories like juggling clubs, stage makeup, balloons, fire-breathing accessories, and more.
The four mini-dolls are Andrea, Stella, Camila, and Claire. If you really want to invest in the idea of establishing a magical fairground in your city, this set gives you plenty to work with either alone, or in combination with the other sets in the collection. It comes with 974 pieces for the price of $99.99, which is a pretty standard price for a large set like this. (The big top measures over 10 inches high and 13 inches wide, and the roller coaster measures over 5 inches high and 20 inches wide). You can find the set at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.
Overall, I feel that this is a creative and attractive sub-theme for LEGO Friends that I believe both kids and adults would enjoy. And although LEGO Friends colors usually need to be toned down to work well in a regular city diorama, I feel that the colors of these sets would work well. They are somewhat muted, and carnivals supposed to be colorful anyway.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Friends Magical Funfair collection? Are you planning to get any of the sets? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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