Thanksgiving with the carnies

Thanksgiving Dinner at the carnival

Thanksgiving 2001 will go down in history as one of my favorite holidays ever! It was strange to spend the day hundreds of miles away from my family. But I was eager to see what it would bring. Our day started fairly normal, with added rumors that our bosses would feed us before work. I…

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When rides go wrong!

father and daugther on a roller coaster

The rush of adrenaline as your body is slung around in a carnival ride can be addictive! That thrilling moment when your heart skips a beat because it looks like you are going to run into a tree branch or other object or when you spin so fast that the g-force lifts your body up…

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How are carnivals and circuses handling COVID-19?

Admit One ticket to the carnival

With much of the US (and the world) shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn’t help but wonder what our traveling entertainers are up to. Have they gone back to winter quarters to work on a few finishing touches? Did they find a way to safely stay in business? Or were they forced…

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Is it safe to travel with a carnival or circus?

Is it safe? An unsure clown sitting on a suitcase

This post was written for people who are considering a job with a carnival or a circus, AND for the families who worry about them. On the flip-side of my post “Is it safe to be around carnival workers and circus workers” is the question of if it is safe to be a carnival or…

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Is it safe to be around carnival workers or circus workers?

A young woman ponders her choices

Some people hate when the circus or carnival comes to town. They believe that the workers are sketchy, possibly even dangerous. This distrust can be so strong that in 2001, when I was a concession stand worker, there were towns where we walked to restaurants and stores in small groups to avoid being harassed by…

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