Durant Amusements Honored with Award from the Greater Ohio Showmen's Association
Durant Amusements Honored with Award from the Greater Ohio Showmen's Association
Located in Russells Point, Ohio, Durant Amusements is helmed by J.R. and Denise Woods. The company offers 26 rides for 2024, but Denise Woods explains “We will be adding to that in 2025 with a Watkins Expo Wheel, our first Expo Wheel.”New for this year: a Monkey Maze fun house. The back end attraction is “bigger than the fun house we have already, and while it's not new, it's being refurbished beautifully. We're excited to add it,” Woods says.The company offers a mix of thrill, family, and kiddie rides. Among the most popular are the Ali Baba, the Typhoon, the Super Shot, and Pharoah's Fury. “Those are all good thrill rides,” Woods reports. Kiddie rides include a train, a sea-life themed Ferris Wheel, a rocking boat, and an elephant ride, among others.Durant Amusement currently does ten fairs and 9 ... [read more]
Fine Fruit Despite Foul Weather at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair
Fine Fruit Despite Foul Weather at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair
With a theme of “Peace, Love, Unity,” this year's Cloverdale Citrust Fair ran February 16th-19th, running from noon to 8 all three days. Admission ranged from $5 to $10, with kids under age 5 admitted free. The first chartered state fair in California, the fair began and continues as a celebration of the region's citrus crops.CEO Tom Keaney presided over an event that included the Friendly Farm Petting Zoo, agricultural 4-H shows, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, and a plethora of art and photo exhibitions. There were talent shows and an evening of varied Hispanic musical performances.The Carnival was provided by Butler Amusements, with pre-sale wristbands priced at $35.According to Keaney, “At this year's fair we faced some extreme weather. It got so bad on Saturday that we sent our admissions staff home and went ... [read more]
Carnival & Fair Buzz
Read Amusement Park Buzz
On Friday, March 8, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the statutory FY24 second half cap has been met. March 7th was the final day petitions were accepted. DHS also announced the filing dates for the supplemental visas:For employers seeking returning workers for the early second half of FY 2024 (April 1 to May 14): USCIS will begin accepting petitions for the additional 19,000 visas made available to returning workers regardless of country of nationality on March 22, 2024. The Seasonal Employment Alliance analysis: It is expected that capped out Group B employers, all of Groups C and D and a portion of Group E to receive their returning workers under this allocation. For employers seeking returning workers for the late second half of FY 2024 (May 15 to Sept. 30): USCIS will begin accepting petitions for the additional 5,000 visas made available to returning workers regardless of country of nationality on April 22, 2024. SEA analysis: Over 15,000 ... [read more]
H-2B Labor Relief Starts with the Carnivals Are Real Entertainment Act (CARE Act H.R. 1787)
Labor relief for the carnival industry begins with contacting your member of congress
Labor shortage is the top challenge faced by the carnival and mobile entertainment industry. For years, many carnivals and food concessionaires have relied on a mix of domestic workers and temporary foreign labor through the H-2B visa program. Due to high demands for H-2B visas and an outdated cap, the last few years have been challenging for those in the industry to obtain workers on time, or, at all, making it extremely difficult for carnivals to plan for their upcoming season. The Outdoor Amusement Business Association and other H-2B advocacy groups have proposed a solution to the problem called the Carnivals Are Real Entertainment Act, otherwise known as the CARE Act (H.R. 1787).
Summary of the CARE Act
The Carnivals are Real Entertainment Act – or the CARE Act – helps this unique and threatened industry address the labor shortage issue by correcting and clarifying existing laws that currently exclude mobile entertainment employers ... [read more]
Jim Frederiksen has done it again! When the International Independent Showmen's Museum needed money to build their building, he donated $1,000,000 in 2010. And now that the museum has decided to expand, he has donated another $1,000,000 to build a 16,800 sq. Ft. addition to the existing 28,000 sq. Ft. Building, located at 6938 Riverview Dr. In Riverview, FL. The building, thanks to his financial support, bears his name.Frederiksen made the announcement at the IISA Club's annual Appreciation Banquet on Jan 30.In addition to his support of the museum, Frederiksen is involved with building the U.S. Army Special Forces Association (Chapter 60) Team House building that just broke ground in January and and plans to be open in Tampa on August 1, 2024. He made a commitment of over $2,000,000 to bring the project to fruition. He also supports his own Shriners club, the New Egypt Temple building in Tampa.He believes in giving back to the community when you can and ... [read more]
Carnival & Fair News Links
Amusement Park News Links
-
Riley Green and Ella Langley Set to Ignite the Stage at the 2024 Kansas State Fair on Saturday, September 14 (KS)
3/28/2024 -
The new coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds will have a familiar name: OG&E (OK)
3/28/2024 -
Theory of a Deadman coming to Alaska State Fair (AK)
3/28/2024 -
NEWSHarfst and Associates, Inc., Make Gift to Wyoming State Fair Endowment (WY)
3/28/2024 -
Mercer County Commission contributes to county fair (WV)
3/28/2024 -
Scotty McCreery to headline at Fond du Lac County Fair on Friday, July 19 (WI)
3/28/2024 -
California State Fair to showcase cannabis competition for 3rd year (CA)
3/27/2024 -
Lake County Fair continues family-friendly tradition (FL)
3/27/2024 -
2024 Iowa State Fair Way We Live Award entries now open (IA)
3/27/2024 -
Safety is top of mind ahead of the Clay County Agricultural Fair (FL)
3/27/2024 -
Hardin County Fairgrounds To Host Eclipse Viewing Experience April 8th (OH)
3/27/2024 -
Country Music Icon Trace Adkins to Perform at South Dakota State Fair (SD)
3/26/2024
Carnival Routes
View Fairs and Events
- North American Midway Entertainment
Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition
3/14/2024 to 4/7/2024 - Miami, FL - Reithoffer Shows
Collier County Fair
3/21/2024 to 3/31/2024 - Naples, FL - Deggeller Attractions
Clay County Fair
4/4/2024 to 4/14/2024 - Green Cove Springs, FL - Wade Shows
Buc Days
5/2/2024 to 5/12/2024 - Corpus Christi, TX - Drew Exposition
The Great Anderson County Fair
5/2/2024 to 5/12/2024 - Anderson, SC - Drew Exposition
The Fair at Heritage Park
5/17/2024 to 5/26/2024 - Anderson, SC
2023 Top 50 Carnivals & Fairs
View All Top 50 Fair Lists
- Houston Livestock Show - Houston, TX
- State Fair of Texas - Dallas, Tx
- Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
- Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) - Toronto, ON
- San Antonio Livestock Show & Ex. - San Antonio, TX
Upcoming Industry Events
View All Industry Events
-
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2024
November 19th - 22nd
Orlando, FL -
IAFE Expo 2024
December 1st - 4th
Phoenix, AZ