Galaxy Amusement Sales
Waterloo Tent & Tarp JKJ Workforce
CHANGE SECTIONS: Carnivals & Fairs Amusement Parks

CarnivalWarehouse.com

THE #1 NEWS SOURCE

FOR CARNIVALS, FAIRS & EVENTS

Galaxy Amusement Sales
Waterloo Tent & Tarp JKJ Workforce
RIDE HELP WANTED RIDE HELP WANTED NOW Dreamland Amusements:  Help Wanted - Click Here Cole Shows- Click Here
BROWNS AMUSEMENTS - NOW HIRING Battech Rides North American Midway Entertainment Carnival Insurance
BROWNS AMUSEMENTS - NOW HIRING Battech Rides North American Midway Entertainment Now Booking Food & Games Carnival Insurance

Carnival & Fair News

Read Amusement Park News

Magic Money
Strates Shows Achieves Several Milestones in 2024
Talley Amusements
Rides 4U - New & Used Rides
2025 Amusement Ride Delivery Availability
For more than a hundred years, Strates Shows, headquartered in Orlando, has brought joy, excitement and lifelong memories to families across the Eastern Seaboard.

The Strates family is deeply rooted in the outdoor amusement industry. Today, the legacy is carried by a third generation of family members – Jimmy, Jay, John and Susan. Nick Strates, representing the fourth generation, joined the company full-time in 2015, bringing a new wave of energy and innovation.

Overseeing daily operations of the company is E. James Strates, who has more than six decades of experience under his belt, and who brings a unique mix of experience, wisdom and passion that make Strates Shows a true industry icon.

The amusement company features more than 75 state-of-the-art rides and a magical midway with plenty of games and food vendors. There is a solid commitment to innovation and safety. The Strates family continues to bring new attractions and innovations to fairs such as the Erie County Fair, while also preserving the nostalgic charm of the past. The business has become a hallmark of American carnival history and entered its 101st year in 2024.

Another big announcement for the company this year – James E. Strates Shows and the Erie County Fair celebrated an extraordinary milestone in August: a century-long partnership that began in 1924. This relationship, spanning 100 years, has become a cornerstone in the history of the American amusement industry. Not only is it the longest continuous partnership of any carnival midway in the United States, but it's also a testament to the bonds that can form between community and tradition.

“When James E. Strates first brought his carnival to the Erie County Fair, it set in motion a legacy of entertainment that has drawn families back to the fairgrounds year after year,” shares Marty Biniasz, Manager of Fair and Community Development for Strates Shows. “This century-old partnership has weathered the test of time, adapting through changing decades, evolving attractions, and economic shifts, while always staying true to its roots of providing high-quality family entertainment.”



The partnership officially began on August 25, 1924, when Southern Tier Shows (now known as James E. Strates Shows) first rolled into Hamburg, New York, to provide the midway and carnival experience for the Erie County Fair. The Strates Shows' midway at the Erie County Fair has now become a cherished fixture, as each generation of fairgoers has the opportunity to experience the new rides and classic attractions.

For the Strates family, this partnership has become more than a business – it's a legacy and commitment to preserving the joy of the fair tradition. New York Governor Kathy Hochul honored the century-long partnership between the Erie County Agricultural Society and Strates Shows and commemorated the milestone by recognizing the partnership as the longest, unbroken bond between a fair and carnival in American history.

The Outdoor Amusement Business Association also declared the occasion the “James E. Strates and Erie County Fairy National Carnival-Fair Partnership Day.”

Strates Shows also celebrated a partnership with the city of Winston-Salem. Every October the city features the Carolina Classic Fair, and the amusement company has partnered with them for 60 years, setting up its colorful rides, games and food stands year after year.

“Over the course of our six-decade-long relationship with the Winston-Salem community, our annual arrival feels like a homecoming,” shared James Strates, Operations Manager of Strates Shows. “It's a time where we renew age-old family friendships that go back generations. We are proud that our company is a part of the fair traditions of so many families in the region.”

Strates Shows also retains notoriety for being one of the last remaining railroad traveling carnivals in the world. On Aug.1, its trains rolled into Buffalo for the final time and marked the end of an era.



The “Fair Train” was a marvel for carnival-goers and train enthusiasts , and had been the sole remaining carnival traveling by train since 1982. Due to the changing economic landscape, running a 45-car train was no longer feasible. Though the company now operates fully by road, the train legacy continues.

“As Strates Shows moves into its second century, the family remains dedicated to bringing the same thrill, nostalgia, and community spirit that has defined the brand for generations,” says Biniasz.”

“Through resilience, family unity, and a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, Strates Shows continues its legacy as a beacon of family fun. And so, cheers to Strates Shows—a cherished family business—and to the countless memories they have helped create across generations!”

LOWER YOUR INSURANCE RATES
Carnival Warehouse Magazine - Subscribe Today
Related Photos
1998-2022: Company | Web site developed by Matt's Web Design, Inc.