Carnival & Fair News

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 largest independent midways in North America, will also be the setting for the debut of Thor, a new thrill ride themed after the God of Thunder.

For the first time in America, Odin's son will descend from Asgard not through comic books, cartoons, summer blockbusters or textbooks on Norse mythology and Germanic paganism, but on a select group of midways in the form of a customized 20-seat Jet Fighter. The ride is the next generation of Technical Park's Loop Fighter and the latest innovation from the Italy-based manufacturer, which produces rides for carnival companies, midway providers and amusement parks.

Two other Jet Fighters are currently operating on other continents, and according to Technical Park, a second unit will be shipped to North America within a year. For now, Thor is America's Jet Fighter, and Wisconsin's SpinCity patrons will be the first to experience it this August, followed by a stop at the Minnesota State Fair over Labor Day weekend.

Latest Generation

“We purchased a one-of-a-kind ride in America from one of the leading makers of thrill rides in the world,” said Jeff Alberts, ride supervisor for Reithoffer Shows. “We will be presenting it on midways in the third and fourth quarters at some of the best state fairs in the nation. Thor is one of the newest thrill rides in the world, and we're looking forward to bringing excitement and smiles to our fairgoers.”

Thor is not only part of the latest generation of amusement rides, but also a first for Reithoffer Shows and Alberts, a longtime Reithoffer employee. Unlike the movie version of Thor, who now travels with his fellow Avengers, this Thor is a solo act. Reithoffer Shows has an ownership interest in the ride, but Alberts, leading a five-person crew, will operate it on an independent route primarily serving fairs with independent midways.

About two years ago, Alberts said, he, Rick Reithoffer and Rick's sons, Ricky and Matthew, began exploring the possibility of supplementing the company's approximately 130-ride, two-unit carnival operation with a separate thrill-ride subcontracting venture. While researching options, they saw an as-yet-unveiled Jet Fighter from Technical Park. In 2025, Alberts led a Reithoffer team to Italy for a prototype demonstration. The final ride required several adjustments to comply with ASTM standards and other requirements unique to the American market.

“We were there 10 days,” said Alberts. “We had to see how it operated differently from other rides, and we had to make sure they could build it to our standards. We worked closely with Technical Park's engineers and technicians.”

Thor Christening

It was during that European trip, after seeing the ride in action, that the group settled on its name. “We christened it Thor when we saw it operate,” Alberts said. “We decided on a cool theme, then we thought of a cool superhero theme. We have a Hulk. We have a Beast. So we went with Thor. There's the Thor movie with Chris Hemsworth, but there's also Thor in mythology, which is how we presented it.”

Alberts worked with a team of artists and Lights Co., an Italian ride-lighting production company, to complete the final presentation of Thor. Reithoffer Shows took delivery of the ride in late June at its Gibsonton, Florida, headquarters, where Alberts, his crew and on-site Technical Park personnel assembled the ride for the first time. “The timing wasn't great. It's never easy getting a ride in mid-July,” Alberts said. “But it's operating great. It's a great ride, and we are ready to debut it at our first spot, the Wisconsin State Fair.”



Alberts noted that although Thor has a higher capacity, its concept is similar to Technical Park's Loop Fighter, which Reithoffer Shows has operated for more than a decade. “We have knowledge of the ride,” he said. “It's very similar, but it's a big upgrade.”

During a phone interview, Alberts expressed particular excitement about the state-of-the-art sound system, laser-light system and fog machine. “We've created a cool, immersive environment, with a soundtrack that includes sayings reflecting the Thor theme as well as safety reminders,” he said.



Wisconsin fairgoers will be the first to discover whether Thor lives up to his God of Thunder reputation or proves to be another Loki illusion. According to Technical Park, “This new thrill ride delivers an intense, high-energy experience through a combination of high-speed rolls and full 360-degree arm rotations. The main arm achieves impressive elevation with variable-speed motion, generating extreme G-force. The simultaneous rotation of the main arm and the looping vehicles creates a dynamic and exhilarating ride, offering an extraordinary blend of sensations for both passengers and onlookers alike. As part of Technical Park's ongoing commitment to innovation, the Jet Fighter continues the tradition of delivering cutting-edge attractions tailored to a broad age range of thrill-seekers.”

“The delivery of the first Jet Fighter in the United States is an exciting milestone for Technical Park,” said Marco Grigolo of Technical Park. “North America has always been an extremely important market for us, and we still remember the arrival of the first Loop Fighter in the U.S., which went on to become one of our most successful and recognizable rides in the American midway industry. That ride was also delivered to Reithoffer Shows. Today, seeing this new-generation Jet Fighter begin its own American story with Jeff Alberts gives us that same sense of excitement and great confidence. Jeff Alberts and the Reithoffer family have a long tradition of bringing major attractions to the midway, and we are proud that they again chose Technical Park to introduce this new thrill ride to the U.S. market. Jet Fighter has an extraordinary presence, both visually and dynamically, and we cannot wait to see the reaction of the American public. We strongly believe this first delivery will be the beginning of another great success story for Technical Park in the United States.”