Wade Shows, Inc. is a

traveling carnival A traveling carnival (US English), usually simply called a carnival, or travelling funfair (UK English), is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, ...

midway company based in

Livonia, Michigan Livonia is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 95,535 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, which ranked it as Michigan's ninth most-populated municipality. Livonia is a part ...

. It provides

amusement ride Amusement rides, sometimes called carnival rides, are mechanical devices or structures that move people especially kids to create fun and enjoyment. Rides are often perceived by many as being scary or more dangerous than they actually are. This ...

s, games and concessions for local, county and state

fair A fair (archaic: faire or fayre) is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. Fairs are typically temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks. Types Variations of fairs incl ...

s throughout the eastern and central

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

.Wade Shows, Inc. (About Wade Shows)
Retrieved Oct. 18, 2015. The company also has an office in

Spring Hill, Florida Spring Hill is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hernando County, Florida, Hernando County, Florida, United States. The population was 113,568 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, up from 98,621 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 ...

, location of its winter quarters.''Wade Shows 'Shakes out cobwebs' nearby before setting up at Fla. fair. (W.G. Wade Shows, Florida State Fair)'' by Ray Waddell from Amusement Business, February 20, 1995]

History

Wade Shows was founded in 1912 by Leander "Lee" Wade.Central Michigan University, ''Wades and Carnivals''
Retrieved Oct. 18, 2015. The family-owned company began playing at small events in the greater

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

area, first known as Imperial Shows, and later Joyland Midway Attractions after Lee Wade retired. Wallace G. "W.G." Wade, the oldest son of Lee Wade, started his own operation in 1916 called W.G. Wade Shows. Like his father's company, W.G. Wade Shows began locally, and would later provide carnival attractions at other events throughout Michigan. In 1952, the

Michigan State Fair The Michigan State Fair is an annual event originally held from 1849 to 2009 in Detroit, the state's largest city. In 2009 the governor declined to fund it because of other priorities. Because agriculture still has a major place in the Michigan ec ...

would be added to their route for the first time. W.G. Wade managed the company until his death in 1956, when his son Wallace G. "Glenn" Wade, Jr. took over. Prior to W.G. Wade's death, Glenn Wade operated his own midway company, which would later be combined with W.G. Wade Shows. He would serve as the first president of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, founded in 1964, and remained a member until his death in 2008. During that time, W.G. Wade Shows also joined carnival syndicate, Amusement Corporation of America, in order to make the company more known throughout the country. W.G. Wade Shows would be acquired in 1984 by current owner Frank Zaitshik, who maintains offices in both Michigan and Florida. licensed under Wade Shows, Inc.Shop and maintenance city located in Florida at: 16958 US Highway 41 Brooksville, FL, 34610-3741 United States. Today, Wade Shows operates over 100 amusement rides and attractions which serve millions of fairgoers annually. Like other carnival midway companies, many of their rides have become eco-friendly including the use of

LED A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...

lighting and

biodiesel Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat (tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil with ...

fueled generators as well as participating in

recycling Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the p ...

programs with area fair managers. Wade Shows has recently been competitive in bidding to provide midways at state fairs, which includes winning a ten-year contract for the

Great New York State Fair The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a 13-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology. With Midway (fair), midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, it has become New Yor ...

in 2014.Syracuse.com, ''Strates Shows' protest against new NYS Fair midway operator rejected'' by Teri Weaver, April 30, 2014
Retrieved Oct. 18, 2015. Some other state fairs the company currently works include the North Alabama State Fair,

North Carolina State Fair The North Carolina State Fair is an American state fair and agricultural exposition held annually in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1853, the fair is organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It attrac ...

(shared with Powers Great American Midways),

Oklahoma State Fair The Oklahoma State Fair is a fair and exposition in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It takes place in mid-September each year, and along with the Tulsa State Fair The Tulsa State Fair is an annual event held at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The mode ...

Florida State Fair The Florida State Fair is held annually at the Florida State Fairgrounds in East Lake-Orient Park, Florida. The official state fair of Florida, it includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, rides and shows. It is a chance for the state to showcase it ...

Missouri State Fair The Missouri State Fair is the state fair for the state of Missouri, which has operated since 1901 in Sedalia, Missouri. It includes daily concerts, exhibits and competitions of animals, homemade crafts, shows, and many food/lemonade stands, and ...

Delaware State Fair The Delaware State Fair is the annual state fair for the state of Delaware. It is held in Harrington. The fair is a ten-day event at the end of July. History The first Delaware State Fair was held in Wilmington, with mentions of the "Delaware ...

and

Nebraska State Fair The Nebraska State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is held annually in Grand Island, approximately 100 miles west of the state capital of Lincoln, which hosted the fair until 2010. The fair usually runs for 11 days, and ...

Notes

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External links

Official Website
Traveling carnivals Amusement park companies Carnivals in the United States Entertainment companies established in 1912 Privately held companies based in Michigan 1912 establishments in Michigan