Carnival & Fair News

The Northwest Showmen's Club Safety Seminar will mark its 47th year this winter, running from February 16 through 20, 2026.

While the club's commitment to safety remains unchanged, this year's seminar will take place at a new venue. The five-day event will be held in Portland, Oregon, at the Embassy Suites Portland Airport.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the seminar registration fee. Daily sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.



As in past years, the classes offered reflect the evolving needs of the industry, and the club remains open to adding new safety topics as demand arises. While no new classes are being introduced this year, all of the seminar's core offerings are scheduled. Subjects range from Proper Parts and Replacement and Fire Extinguisher Safety to Blocking 101 and Back of the House Safety for fun houses and dark rides.

According to Theresa Stromberg, recording secretary for the Northwest Showmen's Club and organizer of this year's Safety Seminar, the program is designed to be both practical and comprehensive.

“We have many different classes, from troubleshooting courses to preparing for a safety inspector to come through a carnival,” Stromberg says. “We cover what inspectors look for and how to make sure, in advance of an inspection, that everything is going well.”

She adds that topics also include selecting the right tools for the job, finding accurate information for older rides that no longer have manuals, and lessons learned through experience that are not documented in manuals.

“We also offer classes on OSHA,” Stromberg notes. “This year, we're adding a forklift class that certifies attendees in forklift operation. Other topics include trips, slips, and falls; safety restraints; hydraulics and electrical symbols; and Rigging Parts One and Two.”

From accident prevention to proper documentation should an incident occur, the Safety Seminar covers a wide range of essential subjects. Many instructors return year after year and are well regarded by attendees.

“We have a lot of really good instructors, too many to name them all,” Stromberg says. “But Daniel Yarnell, Jim Hall, Avery Wheelock, and D.W. Craven are among them.”



The instructors bring extensive hands-on experience to the classroom. Jim Hall operates a show for Butler; Avery Wheelock runs his own safety business, World Wide Safety Group; and Joe Bixler, another seminar participant, performs safety inspections for numerous carnivals. Dennis Southerland is also a safety inspector and consultant.

On the fifth and final day of the seminar, Ames Testing, NAARSO Testing, and first aid and CPR classes are offered.

Classes run throughout the day, with breaks for lunch. Morning sessions typically consist of three classes, while afternoon sessions include up to eight classes held in multiple classrooms. This format allows attendees to choose from a variety of subjects while keeping class sizes smaller.

Most participants register for the full five days of the seminar, although some attend only select classes, according to Stromberg.

The Safety Seminar has been held in Portland for many years, but it began 47 years ago in a building owned by the Northwest Showmen's Club in Puyallup, Washington. The event has grown significantly over time, due in large part, Stromberg says, to the efforts of the Burback family, owners of Funtastic Shows.

Although Tracy Burback Munoz retired this year, Funtastic Shows remains deeply involved in the seminar. Stromberg explains that many committee members also work for Funtastic, which has long supported the organization.



“It all started to keep employees informed, especially new hires who don't always know how to block a ride or which pins to use,” she says. “We are fortunate not to have many industrial accidents in our industry, and we'd like to keep it that way.”

While attendees once traveled from across the country to participate, similar safety seminars now operate on the East Coast and in Canada. As a result, the Northwest Showmen's Club Safety Seminar primarily draws participants from the western and northwestern United States.

“Ours was the first safety seminar,” Stromberg says. “It's good for everyone in the industry to understand safety and to know that employees and patrons are protected. I believe you can learn a great deal about all aspects of safety at our seminar.”

The Northwest Showmen's Club Safety Seminar was established to promote continuing education among amusement industry professionals. Its interactive classes and hands-on learning environments help raise safety awareness throughout the carnival industry. The seminar is aligned with Portland Community College's Continuing Education Program and offers two CEUs upon successful participation and completion.

Online registration is currently open. Pricing is $175 for Northwest Showmen's Club members and $200 for non-members. Registration details are available at www.nwshowmensclub.com/events/34  .