Amusement Park News

  North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order easing some stay at home orders and restrictions.  Included in the order is the ability for amusement parks to open outdoors with 50% capacity and indoors with 30% of capacity.  Other conditions, such as social distancing, mask wearing and plans for ingress and egress are required.While, it was not clear from the order if carnivals would be included, the order does still impose a maximum limit of 50 people for outdoor parades, street fairs, and festivals.  However, concerts and other events held at outdoor venues for live performances are subject to a 30% occupancy limit or 7 guests for every 1,000 square feet.If carnivals can be considered "traveling amusement parks" or if they are subject to the 50 person limit remains to be determined but venues such as the North Carolina State Fair and the North Carolina Mountain State Fair recently announced that they were planning to run this year. Agriculture ...   [read more]

  In an announcement to come next week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will allow fairs and festivals to operate in the state with restrictions this Spring.  The move will allow events up to 30% of capacity for outdoor venues. "There are so many people who were waiting for this day, I know you've received the calls and the texts, and I have too from people who were looking to plan for the future, and now, I think, it's reassuring to everybody that the planning can begin, that we can begin down that road back to normal,” Lt. Gov. Jane Husted said.The announcement, made early, will allow events and carnivals to plan ahead for opening, something that has been missing in other state orders.  With events and routing taking time to plan, the "go ahead" must be given well in advance in order to plan and hold an event.  The early announcement will give Ohio amusement business participants ample time to do so.The announcement next week will clarify provisions ...   [read more]