Presidents Message on Carnivals
In 2012, the Trempealeau County Fair did not have a carnival. This was not for lack of trying, in fact quite the opposite. Several of us on the fair board worked vigorously to attract a carnival, only to be told they were already booked. The fact is the carnival industry has gone through major consolidation. Smaller carnivals are leaving the business because they cannot make enough money at smaller shows like our fair.
The best way to explain the carnival situation is to use numbers. In talking to carnivals they would like to gross somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000 for the 4 days. Sounds like an awful lot, right? They have to pay their people 7 days a week, move their equipment from location to location, make repairs, advertise, pay their other bills, etc. They are a business, and like all others, they need to make money. We do not know their costs, but we have to respect that they know their
business and this is what they need to make.
Here is a recap of the income generated by carnivals at the Trempealeau County Fair over the past few years:
Year Carnival Gross Income(total sales)
2011 K & M Rides Less than $3700
2010 Spectrum Amusements Less than $4500
2009 Chippewa Valley Rides About $6000
2008 Chippewa Valley Rides About $6000
The four-year average is $5,050 per year. That's total sales, which means the revenue generated by the carnivals at our fair are 5 - 6 times lower than what most carnivals need to be profitable.
The fair board has been trying to attract a carnival every year for the last 3 years. We welcome any kind of help in the endeavor that anybody can offer us. Last year, we used “The Big E” from La Crosse. We wanted to offer something for the kids, so we sought them out.
The Trempealeau County Agricultural Society, is not profiting from operating the fair, we are working purely to continue this great educational event. If you have any ideas that might be of help, please consider contacting us using the contact section on this website. If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding the 2013 carnival, or lack there of, we encourage you to contact us.
Kellen Nelson, President
The best way to explain the carnival situation is to use numbers. In talking to carnivals they would like to gross somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000 for the 4 days. Sounds like an awful lot, right? They have to pay their people 7 days a week, move their equipment from location to location, make repairs, advertise, pay their other bills, etc. They are a business, and like all others, they need to make money. We do not know their costs, but we have to respect that they know their
business and this is what they need to make.
Here is a recap of the income generated by carnivals at the Trempealeau County Fair over the past few years:
Year Carnival Gross Income(total sales)
2011 K & M Rides Less than $3700
2010 Spectrum Amusements Less than $4500
2009 Chippewa Valley Rides About $6000
2008 Chippewa Valley Rides About $6000
The four-year average is $5,050 per year. That's total sales, which means the revenue generated by the carnivals at our fair are 5 - 6 times lower than what most carnivals need to be profitable.
The fair board has been trying to attract a carnival every year for the last 3 years. We welcome any kind of help in the endeavor that anybody can offer us. Last year, we used “The Big E” from La Crosse. We wanted to offer something for the kids, so we sought them out.
The Trempealeau County Agricultural Society, is not profiting from operating the fair, we are working purely to continue this great educational event. If you have any ideas that might be of help, please consider contacting us using the contact section on this website. If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding the 2013 carnival, or lack there of, we encourage you to contact us.
Kellen Nelson, President
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