Sydney's Luna Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary, with free rides and a concert by pop legend John Farnham.
Entertainers in fancy dress danced under the theme park's iconic grinning face on Monday morning, as staff handed out cup cakes to thrill-seekers.
Rain which earlier drenched the city did a timely disappearing act.
Hugh Munro had more reason than most to celebrate the milestone.
In 1976, aged just 11, he lied to managers of the theme park, which is nestled in the shadow of Sydney's Harbour Bridge, and wangled a job.
It began a career spanning more than three decades, encompassing just about every part of the venue.
"I told them I was over 16 and was put on the guess the weight and people's ages (attractions). I was very good at it," he told AAP.
June 9, 1979, the day the park burned down, is seared in Mr Munro's memory.
He was due to celebrate his birthday there with friends, but the fire, which started in the ghost train, killing six children and one adult, put paid to his plans.
"I was extremely upset but I was determined to always work for Luna Park."
Managing director Peter Hearne said the theme park's location and ability to evolve were crucial to its longevity.
"It's also a place where people can come and be silly and have fun," he said.
"It's important for children today to actually have to physically do things, so they can go on Coney Island - they have to go down giant slide.
"There's no virtual reality here."
Sydneysiders were invited to enter a ballot in the days prior to the celebrations, the winners of which were invited to ride for free on Monday.
John Farnham is due to perform a one-off concert on Monday night.
The amusement park has had a bumpy ride recently, after residents of the Milson's Point area in Sydney's north took legal action against the amount of noise generated by rides and patrons.
Opening in October 1935, Luna Park's famous entrance was designed by Robert Browne and is based in part on New York's Chrysler Building.
In 1947, faulty neon lights installed shortly after the second World War caused a massive fire that destroyed part of the original towers.
The Face was all but unrecognisable in the late 1950s, as sagging and deterioration of materials caused the eyes to narrow and nose to look misshapen.
In all, there have been eight distinct faces, with the seventh currenly on display in Sydney's Powerhouse Museum.
Luna Park when through a major revamp in 2004, with facilities upgraded to reach international safety standards.
The 2004 renovation included the construction of the Big Top.
