Fanelli Amusements Bets on a Classic: New Scooter delivers family appeal while helping operators navigate labor challenges
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 ... [read more]
Tasty Trends, Reimagined Staples & New Promotions: Midway foodies Forecast the Sweet, the Salty & the Higher Prices of 2026
Fair food has long been one of the biggest reasons people attend fairs, and in recent years its popularity has only grown. While concessionaires continue to face rising food, labor, and operating ... [read more]
Salem Fair: Heat Challenges Attendance, but America250 Boosts Marketing
Independence Day dominates the collective imagination of summer, and most fairs celebrate patriotism, an aspirational ideal shared by American communities. This year marks America's ... [read more]
Thor, God of Thunder: Jet Fighter Ready to Debut at Wisconsin State Fair
The 2026 Wisconsin State Fair promises headliners including AJR, Nelly and John Mulaney, along with more cream puffs than nearly any comparable outdoor event. Its iconic midway, SpinCity, one of the ... [read more]
Kissel Amusement Approaches 96th Season with Fifth Generation Waiting in the Wings
Kissel Amusement Company's Nicholas Kissel represents the fourth generation of his family-run Ohio business as it approaches its 96th year.“My great-grandfather, Ralph, started the business in ... [read more]
After a Long Journey, Poor Jack Amusements Debuts New SBF/Visa Pirate-32
In mid July, Poor Jack Amusements debuted its new Pirate Ship from Rides 4-U after a long-awaited journey to the midway. While the ride made its first appearance in North America more than a year ... [read more]
Alameda County Fair Marks America 250 with New Attractions, 9/11 Memorial
Running Wednesdays through Sundays from June 18 to July 12, this year's Alameda County Fair drew strong crowds with a lineup of new attractions, carnival rides, and a moving 9/11 memorial.According ... [read more]
San Mateo County Fair Blends Century of Tradition with Technology-Focused Programming
As fairs across North America continue looking for new ways to remain relevant while preserving their heritage, the 2026 San Mateo County Fair demonstrated how those two goals can successfully ... [read more]
Sally Sue's Concessions: Building Success Through Trial, Error, and Consistency
Danielle Carpenter-Ryals and her mother, Lori Clark, operate Sally Sue's Concessions, offering their own unique take on freshly rolled cinnamon rolls and fire wok noodles or rice.“Our cinnamon ... [read more]
Celebrating a Century of the Tilt-A-Whirl
One hundred years ago this month, Herbert Sellner applied for a patent for a ride he invented at the kitchen table and built in a neighbor's yard in Faribault, Minnesota. According to family lore, ... [read more]
