After 50 years with Cushing Amusements, the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society signed a five-year contract with Fiesta Shows, a New Hampshire-based company, to provide the amusements.
The rides and entertainment at the annual Agricultural Fair will have a different look this year.
After 50 years with Cushing Amusements, the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society signed a five-year contract with Fiesta Shows, a New Hampshire-based company, to provide the amusements. Fiesta Shows is known for supplying rides, concession stands and billboards to the Topsfield Fair and the Marshfield Fair on the mainland.
Cushing Amusements has been supplying rides for 50 years.
Cushing Amusements has been supplying rides for 50 years.
“We had worked with Cushing for 50 years and we were going through contract negotiations and it became apparent that we both agreed it was time to go our different ways,” society president Lauren Lynch said. “We had a great relationship with them.”
Ms. Lynch is excited to work with the new company, saying the conversations with Fiesta Shows owner E.J. Dean have been productive.
“I love that he seems to be the kind of person who is making it better for himself and the company, but also his industry,” she said. “He’s a big-picture person but also has the intimacy and knowledge to come to Martha’s Vineyard and set up an amazing show.”
Due to the late timing of negotiations, Ms. Lynch said there may be fewer rides than previous years. But she is confident that the quality of the entertainment will not be affected. Ms. Lynch expected there would be about 10 to 12 rides, plus games and food. Some of the confirmed rides so far are a merry-go-round, super slide, swamp gator and swinger.
“There may be a few rides less than in the past but I honestly really don’t think it will be noticed,” she said. “They put up screens that educate you about the history of popcorn, fairs in the US, so there’s an educational component of sorts. There’s a real intimacy in the environment that they’re looking to create.”
The dates of the festival this year are August 21 to 24, but will shift a bit starting in 2026, according to Ms. Lynch. Next year, the fair will be held August 13 to 16. The fair is scheduled to be held from August 12 to 15 in 2027; August 10 to 13 in 2028 and August 9 to 12 in 2029.
Part of this change is due to a conflict with Fiesta Shows, which heads the Marshfield Fair the same weekend as the traditional fair date.
“As part of working with Fiesta, because it overlaps with Marshfield, they were looking to change the dates, so we were amenable to changing the dates,” Ms. Lynch said.
Despite upcoming changes, Ms. Lynch is confident the fair will remain a summer staple for everybody.
“It never ceases to amaze me how much the fair means to people,” she said. “It’s part of so many people’s DNA. I appreciate it more and more every year. We’re confident that Fiesta Shows is going to continue to create that wonderful memory and feeling that the community loves.”
Editor's note: this article has been updated to provide more details about the fair rides and correct the length of the Fiesta Shows contract.
Comments
The fair has begun on the
OB Resident Oak BluffsThe fair has begun on the third Thursday of August for decades. Many people plan their vacations around it. Since when does an entertainment company dictate the dates of the fair?
While I can appreciate your
Joanne West TisWhile I can appreciate your question, my guess it’s more about budget.
If you read the press release
EdIf you read the press release from the Ag Society it was actually Cushing Amusements that requested the third week in August 50 years ago. So, since then.
The fair dates are dictated
Albert GosnoldThe fair dates are dictated by entertainers availability.
The fair is entertainment.
I don’t like it. I don’t even
Jessica EdgartownI don’t like it. I don’t even ride the rides any more but fewer rides will definitely be noticed. As for changing the dates….what? Watch out OB because absolutely everybody on island that Friday will definitely be at the fireworks. It may make a difference to those exhibiting produce and flowers too. I guess we’ll see when it happens next year.
What an absolute shame! Born
Laura Bryant ChilmarkWhat an absolute shame! Born and raised here and the fair is something that is planned around our work and obligations. Changing the date, fewer rides sad! Tourists made plans already
I appreciate everything the
Bill Ryan Edgartown/New JerseyI appreciate everything the good people do to put on the amazing fair every year! BUT---the dates change, to me, is a big deal---a tradition which people for years have built their vacations around. It also has tied in with other events. I surely wish this is changed back somehow!
The date change does not take
West Tisbury Resident West TisburyThe date change does not take effect until next year. It's not too late for anyone to plan accordingly people. It's fewer rides at first because of the short notice. It will only get better. Remember, the MV AGRICULTURAL Society is a non-profit and run mostly by volunteers doing their best to keep an organization afloat with relatively low working capital, absolutely relying on 4 days of decent weather every year to throw coal in the fires. I wish everyone knew how much time and dedication goes into this organization to keep it afloat. If you have any concerns, reach out the Ag Soc directly before you decide to hide behind your keyboard & spread your negativity in public forums. Good job to all of those involved, I, for one, appreciate all of the hard work it takes to keep an agriculturally based non-profit afloat in such trying times!!
Bravo for helping to put
Native Vineyard HavenBravo for helping to put things in it's proper perspective.
Took the words out of my
Brian Athearn West tisburyTook the words out of my mouth WT Resident. I’m off social media partially because of my disappointment in situations like this. Negative attacks without one shred of concern for the people that spend THOUSANDS of volunteer hours a year to put on a once a year fundraising event. Shame on all of you. Your friends and family are people that had to make tough choices, a thank you is what I had planned.
And this is a comment from a
Native Vineyard HavenAnd this is a comment from a man who knows first hand just what it takes to run this non-profit. Thank you Brian, your words carry more weight than you know.
Well said. Thank you Brian
Native EDGARTOWNWell said. Thank you Brian for all that you do....
Thank you to all the
The times they are a changin’ Oak bluffsThank you to all the volunteers that make this event happen, your hard work does not go unnoticed, thank you. The Cushing family have been amazing, thank you, and I for one will miss them. They became friends of our family and a highlight was visiting them each year at the fairgrounds. As sad as it is to say, the fair has run its course on so many levels. This change will prove to be problematic for scheduling vendors, timing of crops and so on. The action packed week was a week where you worked hard and played hard, this will impact the locals experience more than tourists. It was the crescendo of a hard worked summer. The loss of the Cushings and the history of the week makes me sad. The show must go on!
Perhaps those complaining
Thomas S Hodgson West TisburyPerhaps those complaining about moving the date of the Fair from one August weekend to another would prefer that we return to the original October 26th Fair time?
That is exactly what I was
Melissa Manter West TisburyThat is exactly what I was thinking... it is funny how much people think they know.
I'd love that! Make it a
Mark G NYCI'd love that! Make it a little spooky...and to be honest, I thought fair week was always the second week in August! LOL
So the change takes place in
Tammy Deese HyannisSo the change takes place in a year, according to what I read. If people don’t feel that’s amble time to change plans that crazy. Sorry but in life there are changes that happen beyond our control. Imagine it could also be less crowded at the fair or other island activities that have been squeezed into that 3rd week of August
As the director of the
Hugh Weisman ChilmarkAs the director of the Chilmark Road Race which has been held the second weekend in August for almost 50 years so as not to conflict with the the fair dates, the new fair dates do represent a conflict that might affect traffic control or whatever with 1,600 runners and family members coming to Chilmark on Saturday morning. Hopefully, we all can work out whatever might be an issue, but geez, it might have been nice to have been at least consulted.
I actually like the date
Christine SengeI actually like the date change. There is way too many events crammed into the 3rd week of August. I like having the option of more things to do that are spread out over the month. And honestly, why does every major event have to be scheduled for August? It would be wonderful to have some major events in July (not just the 4th weekend). This will also spread out people over two months rather than just August, which will result in fewer traffic jams. Also businesses will get more revenue through both July & August.
Is this just a planned switch
Bob Kelly OAK BLUFFSIs this just a planned switch for 2026 (which I can live with) OR a permanent change of weeks? I think it could effect some of the contests for things that are grown with one less week growing time. Maybe it's good to spread it all out but I hate parting with the tradition of the blowout week before folks depart to begin the school year at home. For folks that arrive the weekend before, they could go to the fair on Sunday before Illumination and still get in fireworks that Friday night before their Saturday departure.
I think we should all applaud
jeremy berlin West tisburyI think we should all applaud Lauren Lynch for her success in the daunting task of obtaining a new carny company when things changed with the old one. 50 years is a long time, and circumstances clearly dictated the need for a shift. Lauren overcame the challenges of getting a new company to commit to the difficulties of getting over to The Vineyard in the middle of the summer, with the hope, but not guarantee that they will earn what they need to, likely competing with other fairs they are within short driving distance from their home base. We can all live with a different weekend - it won’t be much different than it was, and now we can all enjoy the annual events over two weeksK. Let’s acknowledge the hard work that it took to make this happen, and adapt to this not so egregious change without complaining. The burgers will be just as good, the animals just as cute, and we can all continue to be part of the excellent tradition of the Ag Fair. Thanks to Lauren Lynch and her team for making it happen under a tight timeline, with no margin for error.
Well spoken Jeremy!
Laura Millmather Rhode IslandWell spoken Jeremy!
Lets keep in "The Spirit of
Brian Athearn West Tisbury, for now....Lets keep in "The Spirit of the Vineyard" and take a second to think that this must not have been an easy choice to come to and there must have been many emotions involved. Tough people make tough choices. See you at the fair!
The MVAS staff does an
Kris Ivory Oak BluffsThe MVAS staff does an absolutely amazing job wrangling the thousands of details and people that have to be coordinated to bring off the Fair every year. Change is always hard, but keeping a positive perspective is essential. I personally know many Island and visitor college students and their families that have been really sad to have to miss the Fair over the years because they have to head off to school a few days before. This change will actually be really great for them.
And please, volunteer at the Fair! More hands are always needed, and it is such a great feeling to be part of such a vital community event.
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