Carnival & Fair News

Located in Columbiana, Ohio, Bortner Shows is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. According to co-owner and CEO Tim Bortner, who operates the family-owned company alongside Frank Amato, the midway currently features ten rides, ten games, and three different food concessions.

The rides and games are geared toward young carnivalgoers and are presented at a variety of smaller venues. “We operate at 22 festivals, fairs, private events, and rental engagements,” Bortner reports.

“We started in 2016 with just one attraction, and we've grown steadily,” Bortner says. “Today, we bring fun to communities across Ohio and Pennsylvania from May through October each year.” He adds that the show continues to serve many of the same events it began with a decade ago and notes that while he has no single favorite location, he enjoys all of the company's stops.

Bortner Shows prides itself on maintaining “a 100% clean and professional environment,” he says—one in which staff members are courteous and rides and equipment are clean and well maintained. The goal, he notes, is always to “create a welcoming atmosphere where both children and parents leave with smiles and great memories.”

Among the company's rides, Bortner cites the Rabbit Racer as the most popular. Built in 1986 by Venture Ride Manufacturing and purchased by the company in 2021 from Bates Brothers, the rabbit-themed ride features gently rotating, rabbit-shaped cars that bounce up and down around a carrot-patterned central spinner.



Other popular attractions include the Sunshine Express train, the show's newest addition, which is being offered for the first time this year. The colorful mini train accommodates both adults and children and was manufactured by the Sunshine Choo Choo Company.

Bortner also notes that the recently acquired kiddie train ride came from Ohio's former D & D Putting Amusement Company, which retired from the amusement ride business in 2021.

The midway also features five inflatable attractions, including a Patriotic Bounce, a Fish Bowl Bounce, and three slides: a 15-foot tropical water slide, a 12-foot fire-themed Fire Slide, and a Rainbow Water Slide and Bounce House combo.

Additional rides include a Baby Merry-Go-Round and a Kiddie Ferris Wheel. Rounding out Bortner Shows' lineup is the Big Top Circus Fun House from Roberts Manufacturing, which features a punching bag, crawl-through tube, ball pit, climbing net, high platform, and slide.

The midway games are rooted in classics such as Balloon Bust and Balloon Pop. Fish Bowl Frenzy, two popular duck ponds, and Lucky Ducky provide an aquatic theme, while Hoop Shoot Basketball and Bucket Ball appeal to young sports fans. Hang Time and the junior striker game, Happy the High Striker, along with Ring-a-Bottle, offer fun tests of skill. The lineup is rounded out by the Novelty Zone, which offers small prizes such as glow sticks and silly string.



Bortner's three food trailers provide a robust selection of offerings. The Midway Grille serves fresh-cut fries, all-beef hot dogs and burgers, homemade onion rings, loaded nachos, corn dogs, grilled corn, and fresh-cut hot chips. The menu also includes a fried chicken sandwich and the popular “walking tacos,” served in a bag of Doritos and topped with cheese, beef, and fresh tomatoes. Lemonade and freshly brewed tea are also available.

The Sweet Shop trailer features homemade elephant ears and two types of funnel cakes—s'mores and seasonal pumpkin—along with other specialty funnel cakes. Additional treats include deep-fried cookies, candy bars, cupcakes, and Twinkies.

Finally, the Candy Land Shop lives up to its name, offering fresh caramel corn, buttered popcorn, caramel apples, candy apples, deep-fried cookies, lollipops, and cotton candy.

The company also provides technical equipment, including a bunkhouse, junction box, ticket booth, and generator for events. Its in-house maintenance shop ensures that all equipment remains in top condition, freshly painted and regularly updated.



Bortner notes that overall business was “down in 2025, but we're optimistic that 2026 will be a stronger year.” As a milestone anniversary year, he intends to make it one to remember.

“We're proud to celebrate a major milestone—our 10th anniversary. For a decade, we've been bringing laughter, bright lights, unforgettable memories, and the sweet smell of funnel cakes to communities and festivals that often don't have access to larger amusement companies. It's been our honor to create fun, family-friendly experiences where they're needed most, making lasting memories for families and friends along the way,” Bortner says.

He describes this milestone as “more than just a celebration of the past 10 years—it's a heartfelt thank you to the incredible communities and supporters who have welcomed us and stood by us every step of the way. We truly couldn't have done it without them.”