New fair coming next week to Everett Arena in Concord

After the Kiwanis Fair was stymied by visa delays, another spring carnival will come to Concord this month. 

Thursday through Sunday, June 12 to 15, the space outside the Everett Arena will be lit up by carnival rides, from the classic Ferris wheel to the “wow-factor” Thunderbolt, and perfumed by the tempting scent of grilled sausages and frying oil. 

The fair will be put on by Fiesta Shows, the same company that has run the midway at the Hopkinton State Fair and Topsfield Fair for decades. The company also previously ran a carnival outside the Steeplegate Mall. 

“We’re excited to be back in Concord,” said EJ Dean, vice president of operations at Fiesta Shows. 

Concord’s usual spring fair, a longstanding Mother’s  Day weekend event that served as a major fundraiser for the Concord Kiwanis Club, was canceled after severe lag in the federal seasonal visa program left the carnival company behind it without enough staff. Fiesta faced those issues too, Dean said, but was able to push through with a core staff until their seasonal workers could join them. Concord Kiwanis President Ken Georgevits has said his organization intends to bring the fair back next year. 

The Concord fair will run Thursday and Friday evenings after 5 p.m. and both weekend days after 1 p.m.