Carnival & Fair News

What a difference a state fair can make. Kissel Entertainment – a family owned,  Ohio-based midway provider founded about 90 years ago, entered the big leagues in 2021 – that was the year Kissel Entertainment first appeared on the Carnivals Playing The Top 50 Fairs, as compiled by Carnival Warehouse. The reason was that's the year the company played the Kentucky State Fair, its RFP beating out many bigger carnival companies, all of whom are on the same list.

Not only has the company been a mainstay on the annual listing but has become an industry leader in programs such as Sensory Days and Quiet Rooms for children on the Autism Spectrum or creating a theme-park experience through an optimum ride selection, quality branding and guest-services.



The 2024 Kentucky State Fair exceeded the previous years' attendance and racked up two record days. Kissel has not been resting on their laurels after reaching this goal. Instead, they have reimagined their midway by creating a theme-park experience for their guests. In 2025, the company has kicked it up a notch with an array of colorful mascots designed to reinforce the family friendly vibes essential to the fairs they play in a route covering Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Midway Mascots

The themed characters - Axel the Beaver; Hambassador R.A. Hamhoof; Jet the Eagle; Hi-Jinx the Cat and Bandit the Pug – are a team of vibrant and engaging characters, designed exclusively for Kissel and will interact with guests across rides, attractions, and amenities. These characters are designed to enhance the guest experience, delivering an added layer of storytelling that brings theme park-quality to every community we serve.

“At Kissel Entertainment, we believe that everyone deserves access to world-class entertainment experiences,” said R.A. Kissel, President, Kissel Entertainment. “These characters are a cornerstone of our mission to bring joy, wonder, and adventure to our guests, creating immersive moments that allow them to escape the stresses of daily life.”

“These characters have been meticulously designed to bring joy to audiences of all ages while also serving practical purposes, such as directing guests and enhancing connections throughout the park,” said Paris Kissel.  “From height charts to menus, merchandise, and employee uniforms, these characters will infuse our entire operation with a cohesive and immersive theme.”

Kissel Entertainment has a rich family legacy that dates back to 1932, when brothers Russell and Ralph Kissel started a pony ride at Coney Island. Four generations later, the current company also includes  R.A.'s wife Tammy, and their children Paris, Savannah Kissel and Madison Kissel.  

Kentucky Changes

The game changer was the Kentucky State Fair contract, the largest event the company plays.  “The Kentucky State Fair provides us with the perfect platform to showcase what we can achieve at full capacity,” said Paris Kissel. “We've made tremendous innovations since partnering with the Kentucky State Fair. From introducing a greater variety of cutting-edge equipment to focusing on customer satisfaction far beyond industry standards, every effort has been geared toward elevating the fair experience.”

Not only was the 2024 edition of the Kentucky State Fair the highest grossing so far for the carnival company, but it reflected what turned out be a very good season. “2024 was a strong year for us,” said Paris Kissel. “We were aware of families being more cautious with their budgets due to inflation, yet despite financial pressures, families made it a priority to attend fairs. That's why we're committed to exceeding their expectations every year, offering experiences that are new, exciting, and worth every dollar. We understand the effort fairgoers put into saving and planning for these events, and we aim to deliver truly memorable moments in return. They work hard for their money, which is why we will never stop working so hard for them.”



The company's emphasis on creating the theme-park experience on the midway coincided with what has been elevated expectations by fairgoers. Apparently, once a company sets a new midway standard, there's no going back. “Fairgoer attitudes in 2024 reflected an increasing expectation for higher standards of hospitality and immersive experiences. There was a clear shift from simply enjoying the rides and attractions to valuing how they were treated by staff and the overall quality of their visit. Compared to 2023, when guests primarily sought entertainment and fun, 2024 demonstrated a stronger emphasis on personalized service and attention to detail. Recognizing this evolving trend, we have invested significant time and resources in refining our guest experience through innovative training programs and thoughtful enhancements across our offerings.”

2025 Trends

In 2025, she “anticipates this demand for elevated hospitality and bespoke experiences to continue, and we are confident that the introduction of exciting initiatives will set a new benchmark for the industry to meet.”

Ironically, Kissel has a unique perspective on the post-lockdown evolution of the fair industry. The start dates of the contract with Kentucky was disrupted by the global pandemic, so their introduction to the big leagues was also a front row seat at the industry's recovery. “Coming out of the pandemic, we've witnessed a seismic shift in what people value. They want to create lasting memories, connect with their loved ones, and experience their communities in tangible ways. Fairs provide precisely that—a real, shared experience in an increasingly digital world.”

In other words, Kissel has become a fair industry leader in meeting the Gen-Z and millennial desire for “authenticity” when spending their entertainment dollar. “People want exclusive experiences,” she explained. “Which is why we have introduced one-of-a-kind experiences for the fairgoers, such as our custom cow popcorn buckets that are theme-park quality, allowing customers to receive free popcorn for life, and pay homage to the agriculture community that we love so much. It is truly something you can't get anywhere else, and our guests really respond to that.”

New rides for 2025 include the Venom, a high-speed thrill ride from Battech; a redesigned 36-ft carousel with a Bill Hickok Wild West Show theme, and the Swamp Splash, a bayou-themed Flume ride, the company's first. But in true Kissel fashion, the company has tricked out the ride to make it a “standout attraction,” said Paris Kissel. “We're creating an atmosphere for guests even while they wait in line, bringing the theme to life at every touchpoint. We have invested in making every aspect experiential, even walking past it can become a photo opportunity to make memories.”

Personal Connections

Paying attention to detail and prioritizing the guest-experience, whether it's Selfie-Ops or Sunscreen Stations will remain foundational for Kissel in 2025. Weather aside, droves of families and new generations are attending Kissel's events and the company is intent on exceeding the new expectations fairgoers have their annual traditions. “Fairs are thriving,” she said. “Fairs are undeniably growing in every sense and direction as a staple of family entertainment.”

Why? “People want to connect,” she said. “Social media and smartphones offer the illusion of greater connectivity, it is tangible, shared experiences like fairs that allow people to truly bond. These events bring families, friends, communities and even strangers together in a way that digital interactions simply cannot replicate. And fairs have been able to keep these timeless traditions while still feeling new and exciting every year.”

Whether it's a new tradition or a gateway to time-tested attractions, Kissel Entertainment's themed characters along with one-of-a-kind custom merchandise, photo opportunities, VIP experiences, sensory inclusive amenities and ride selection will be upping the ante when it comes to making the midway experience as imaginative as any theme or amusement park.

“You don't have to travel to Orlando to experience theme park magic,” added R.A. Kissel. “We're proving that high-quality entertainment can come to any city or community, at any price point, without sacrificing quality.”