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Step Right Up! It's Showtime For Carnivals

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

RIVERVIEW - It has all the sights, sounds and smells of a carnival, but the expanse of rides and food is not for fun; it's a serious business trade exhibit for those involved in the world of outdoor entertainment.

The show, the International Independent Showmen's Association Trade Show and Extravaganza is held for a week each year on the association's grounds and draws the latest in rides, foods, stuffed toys, trailers and other carnival-related businesses. Anyone can go, but with tickets at $50 each, attendees generally are connected to the business.

This is the 40th year of the show, the largest of its kind. During the week, up to 15,000 people are expected, said Carol Sikes, secretary of the association.

The Gibsonton and Riverview areas long have been home to many carnival people, dating back to the days when Al "The Giant" Tomaini and his wife, Jeanie, "The Half Woman" opened a fish camp and restaurant in Gibsonton in 1941. Soon many of their friends from the carnival joined them, coming home to the area for the winter after a season on the road.

Sounds of the carnival hit attendees to the trade show at the entrance, where the $130,000 Ambassador model of Stinson Band Organ Co. belts out the traditional organ music associated with amusement rides and carnivals. Creator Don Stinson, who sculpted the forms for the molded figures and helped assemble the elaborate facades for the organs, is there to tell about the whole line of band organs created at his Ohio factory.

Virginia James, of Andalusia, Ala., was at the show looking for a new ride.

There were a number on hand at the show: brightly colored tea cups, miniature motorcycles or hot-air balloons, to mention a few. The balloon ride, by Zamperla Inc., sells for $160,000.

Lori Sterling of Columbus, Ohio, whose family operates rental games and rides for churches and small festivals, was walking the aisles of stuffed toys with her three children, Sarah, 8; Jacob, 11; and Ashley, 14. The family combined the trade show visit with a Florida vacation and stops at several Orlando theme parks.

"Having the kids along is great," Lori Sterling said, "because they let us know what's hot."

As the family looked over the rows of stuffed toys, known in the trade as "plush," Sarah advised her mother that the Littlest Pet Shop line would be really popular this year.

Like everyone who travels with the carnivals and festivals, gas prices are high on the minds of operators because it increases the cost of hauling equipment around. Higher pump prices also could help the small festivals and carnivals, though, Sterling said.

"People might not be going on a big vacation because of the economy and more willing to go to the local carnival and spend more money there," she said.

That may have helped Sue Anne Taylor, whose family operates a small carnival with a few rides out of Annapolis, Md.

"The crowds are holding up pretty well," Taylor said. "We had a good season. The weather was good with hardly any rain."

Taylor was visiting with Brenda Hance of Riverview, who travels with food concessions, mostly to Maryland. She and Taylor became friends when they traveled with the same carnivals.

"I haven't seen her since last year," Hance said. "We don't always go to the same fairs each year. That's what is so neat about the trade show; you run into people you know from being on the road."

The trade show continues through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Showmen's Club, 6915 Riverview Drive.

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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