MONTRÉAL — Traveling carnivals are a vibrant summer tradition in Quebec, featuring bright rides, skill-testing games, and plenty of cotton candy. These midways, which pop up in shopping center parking lots and other locations, have been a staple of the Quebec landscape for decades.

Véronique Vallée, co-owner of Beauce Carnaval, the oldest carnival company in the region, expressed optimism about the future. "We never end up in the red; business is going well," she said. However, she noted that some seasons can be challenging. This year, for instance, cold and rainy weather in April and May caused significant losses. "We lost nine Saturdays at the beginning of the year. That hurts," Vallée added. Despite these setbacks, she mentioned that attendance often increases when the weather improves.

Beauce Carnaval, founded in 1953 by Vallée's grandfather, Florian, operates two traveling units that cover a wide area from Côte-Nord to Abitibi and beyond. The company is now run by Vallée and her two brothers, who grew up immersed in carnival life. "When we finished school, we would come and spend our summers at the carnival," Vallée recalled.

Another company, Fun Show, founded 19 years ago, also operates two units but covers a smaller territory. Sylvie Larivière, sister of Fun Show's founder, Mario Larivière, highlighted the financial challenges of running a carnival. "People have no idea about the costs of operation, repairs, maintenance, and moving," she said. Fun Show is self-sufficient, generating its own electricity and facing high diesel costs. Despite the challenges, the company has only lost money in one year of its nearly two-decade history.

Both companies employ around 100 people, with numbers fluctuating based on customer demand. Vallée noted the difficulty in recruiting workers due to the nature of the job, which requires being on the road for six months without weekends off. To address staffing needs, Beauce Carnaval has employed seasonal workers from Mexico since 2018, fostering a supportive team environment.

On the Fun Show side, unit manager René Caron mentioned that many workers return year after year, creating a familial atmosphere. "Many don’t have a family, many don’t have a fixed home. So they come here for the summer and the family atmosphere," Caron said.

Carnival workers express a passion for their lifestyle, often citing the joy of entertaining others. Robert Gobeil, who met Sylvain Roy at Beauce Carnaval, shared his enthusiasm: "We love everything in general. We’re here to entertain people; what’s better than entertaining people?" Gobeil, who travels south in the winter, briefly retired during the COVID-19 pandemic but returned to carnival life.

Roy, who enjoys winter sports during the off-season, echoed Gobeil's sentiments. "When it’s in your blood, you come back," he said. "I love it: Beauce Carnival is a family. We’re a family at home, but when we’re here, we have a family here too."

The enduring appeal of Quebec's traveling carnivals continues to captivate both workers and visitors alike.