‘Carny’ revels in return of festivals after COVID hiatus

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Justin Wagner is a carny. The owner of Shooting Star Amusements doesn’t mind the word, although it conjures stereotypes, and isn’t really in use much anymore.

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“We only use it when we are talking about the old days,” said Wagner. “We call ourselves members of the carnival industry now.”

Wagner was in town with his 15-ride carnival this week for the Point Gray Fiesta in Trimble Park. Although some disappointed labradoodles were sitting on the sidelines, displaced from their turf, their humans turned out in force to enjoy the bustle of the midway.

Wagner’s been traveling with carnivals since he was a toddler. His parents of him were carnies, and his 15-year-old daughter Dylynn is working the duck pond.

For three generations, the rattle and whirr of the Zipper, the thud of bumper cars, the sweet and salty smell of corndogs and cotton candy have been home to Wagner’s family, even when being at home meant being on the road, putting up in motels and driving country roads.

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“It’s a good life,” said Wagner, who lives in Mission during the off-season. His fuel bill has doubled this year, but he’s just grateful to be out, refunding tickets to moms who wanted a day pass instead and dispatching lost children to be reunited with parents.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it’s when they get off the ride they get lost. Their parents don’t see them. That’s when we find them,” said Wagner.

Wagner left the business for a few years to work as a real estate agent, but purchased Shooting Stars in 2019.

Stepping back into the business was easy, even if a few things are different from the old days. “Rides have changed, just like cars.”

“Used to be one of the guys could diagnose a ride by listening to the sounds it made,” said Wagner. “Now we use electronics and scanners. They are much more technologically advanced.”

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A week before launching his first tour in 2020, the province went into lockdown.

“It was tough,” said Wagner. Everything went into storage until August 2021, and that relaunch was short lived, with new restrictions popping up as he and his crew traveled from one health region to another.

To be on the road now, with a full lineup of festivals for the summer, it feels like a fresh start, and it’s clear by the turnout that Wagner isn’t the only one enjoying the day.

Over at the duck pond, his daughter Dylynn chats with the young ones. For a lot of carnival goers, the duck pond is their first game, explains Wagner. “It’s an easy one, just pick a duck out of the water and you’re guaranteed a prize.”

Dilynn is saving up to buy a car. A 1970s Volkswagen van is her dream set of wheels, and she figures being on the road for the summer might improve her chances of finding one.

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“She’s always looking in driveways and behind barns when we are on the road,” said Wagner.

Dilynn has had to set a few of her friends straight on carnival life.

“It’s different than maybe what they think it is,” said Dilynn.

It is all about family for the Wagners.

Wagner points to the Ferris Wheel installed at Trimble park facing English Bay and the North Shore mountains. “From the top you can see the whole city.”

But that’s probably not why the lineup for the ferris wheel is the longest lineup in the park. You don’t need a strong stomach or a ton of courage to ride the ferris wheel. You just need to be able to relax and enjoy the ride.

“Everybody loves it,” said Wagner.

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