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. — Ray Ewing

“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.