Midway Rides Return To N.B. Communities

East Coast Amusements plans to bring midway rides to Saint John and other communities this year.

The family-owned business, based in Lutes Mountain, set up in Fredericton last week with mixed reactions.

Nathan Smithers, general manager of the company, said many people did not understand how it would look at first.

“I think everyone just pictured the traditional exhibition, so large crowds, everyone jammed in. Now that we’ve been operating, we’re getting a lot of positive feedback because they’re seeing that it’s not what everyone pictured,” said Smithers.

Typically, Smithers said, a midway is open to anyone who wanted to walk in with no real controls on limitations. But under the company’s COVID-19 operational plan, only a certain number of people are allowed on the grounds at once.

Smithers said rides are sanitized after each use, the rides are spaced further apart and all staff are required to wear masks. Visitors will have their temperature taken and be asked for their contact information in the event tracing is required.

“It’s definitely less rides, less games and everything that had been picked for this season was chosen because it could fit into the COVID-19 plan for sanitization and social distancing on the actual ride,” he said.

Smithers said they have been inspected several times by the government to make sure they are in compliance with all regulations.

“They’ve been down probably more than they would be to most businesses, which is fine because we appreciate every time they come down and sign off on a paper that says we’re totally compliant and no issues,” he said.

The company is working to secure a location in Saint John and hope to set up shop in the city in the next week or two. They also hope to visit other communities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia this season.

While not everyone is amused with the idea of a midway during a pandemic, Smithers said it is up to each person to evaluate their own risk.

“I don’t think there’s any more risk for a stop here than there would be to your local grocery store, mall or anything like that,” he said.

“We all have to follow the same protocols, we all have to ensure the same level of sanitization, social distancing, and we actually go a couple steps beyond with active screening where a lot of places don’t even do that.”

Smithers said the lifting of provincial restrictions also allowed them to bring their employees back to work, many of whom were unsure they would even have a job this year.

“Obviously, everyone takes it very seriously because it’s our livelihood at stake here,” he said of the COVID-19 restrictions.