Carnival & Fair News

Joe Fanelli of Fanelli Amusements attended IAAPA Expo 2025, the global attractions industry's premier event, looking for new rides. His major purchase was a new bumper car ride, The Scooter, by Majestic Manufacturing. The iconic attraction has been reintroduced to the midway in a significant way. Like many pop culture trends, amusement ride popularity can be cyclical, but the renewed appeal of bumper cars has also been fueled by today's economy.

As he planned for the upcoming season, Fanelli focused not only on recognizable fair favorites but also on rides that were easy to transport and assemble. With labor challenges more severe than ever, single-trailer rides requiring only a handful of workers for setup and teardown were a top priority.

Fanelli purchased a Scooter TM1400, which, according to Chris Kudler of Majestic, “requires two people to complete the setup." Kudler said the company has seen increased sales of its Scooter rides among carnival companies. "There's a new demand because these are iconic rides," he said. "With rising fuel and insurance costs, bumper cars require very little labor and appeal to every fairgoer."

Saving Costs

Fanelli Amusements is a regional midway provider based in New England that plays 28 to 30 dates each season. The company operates about 30 rides, six to eight food concessions, and several games, employing approximately 25 to 50 H-2B workers.

Securing enough labor has been the company's biggest challenge. Even when foreign workers are approved, processing delays often mean they arrive days or even weeks after they are needed, jeopardizing operations. As a result, many small and midsize midway providers have been forced to reduce their ride inventories, often disappointing fair officials and organizers.

"Operating expenses, insurance, and now fuel are all higher," said Joe Fanelli, who owns and operates the company with his brother, John. "The weather is always hit or miss, but labor has been a problem. Even with all the hurdles and hoops the government puts you through, you still don't get workers when you need them. The early part of the season has been very stressful and, in some cases, we've had to scale back."

Like many businesses in today's economy, Fanelli Amusements continues to battle rising costs. Even so, the third-generation showman remains committed to the outdoor event industry.

"Fairs are stronger than ever, especially agricultural fairs," he said. "Traveling to different towns and communities, the people are great. From the committees and municipalities to the families who come out to support their fair, it's a strong product that's attracting younger people, too."

Following the pandemic, the company expanded its route and added a cashless midway system. By IAAPA Expo 2025, Fanelli was ready to expand his ride inventory while keeping workforce challenges in mind.

"We also bought a Flying Bobs ride, but Majestic had been promoting its Scooter ride," he said. "It had a great lighting package and looked fantastic. We're looking at other equipment too, but tariffs and delays have made some foreign-built rides much more difficult to obtain."

Perfect Family Ride

Fanelli Amusements previously operated an older model Majestic Scooter, and when Fanelli saw Majestic's newest version of the Scooter, he realized it was time to bring the classic attraction back. Renamed Rock-N-Cars, the ride has been a hit during the 2026 season.

"Our clientele is largely families, parents with children, and bumper cars are the perfect family ride," Fanelli said. "They've been very popular."

Part of the attraction's lasting appeal is its interactive nature. Riders are not only driving but also laughing and bumping into friends and family.

"From children to grandparents, who doesn't love bumper cars?" Kudler said. He noted that sales to midway providers have steadily increased over the past decade. "We've redesigned our scenery packages and made other upgrades. We're always looking for ways to improve the experience."

For traveling amusement companies, ease of operation has become one of the ride's biggest selling points.

"We've done everything we can to make the attraction less burdensome," Kudler said. "Our customers want setup and teardown to be easier and as close to a one-person operation as possible. We've developed new packages for both new and refurbished bumper cars."

Majestic's Scooter line has become one of the leading bumper car systems on today's market, offering several models and dozens of car designs.

"It's a very iconic attraction," Kudler said. "It's communal fun. We've invested in skilled craftsmanship, and by designing these rides so only one or two workers are needed, carnival companies have realized bumper cars are a very practical ride given today's labor challenges."

Majestic Manufacturing is also one of the few remaining domestic amusement ride manufacturers. Lingering shipping disruptions, inflation, and new federal tariff policies have renewed interest in American-built rides.

Fanelli said buying American was not his primary goal, but it offered a significant advantage.

"We were able to get the ride in time for the season," he said. "With some other rides, you're still looking at two- or three-year lead times."

While tariffs have increased interest in domestic manufacturers, Kudler noted that "Made in the USA" often refers to where the ride is assembled rather than where every component is sourced.