Every year around this time, a little bit of magic comes to the dirt lot behind the ball diamonds. The dusty strip is transformed into a whirling feast for the senses – circus lights, gut-churning rides, and games of chance, all infused with the delicious smell of deep-fried foods.
And whom can Lac La Biche thank for trucking in, setting up, and running all this colourful fun?
Carnies.
Wildrose Shows runs the Pow Wow midway and they employ nearly 50 seasonal workers to handle the transportation, maintenance, and day-to-day logistics of a travelling carnival.
Sam Potts has been with Wildrose for 15 years, ever since joining up at a midway – literally running away to join the circus – in her home town of Medicine Hat when she was just 18.
“We have all walks of life here,” Potts said. “People as young as 17, and Grandpa, he’s 74.”
Potts said a typical day usually involves rolling up in a new town, “putting your best grubbies on,” and setting up the rides, games, and booths. When they’re up and running, it’s 12-hour days, from noon to midnight.
In her time, Potts has done a bit of everything on the midway from spinning the wheel for the crowns and anchors game, making cotton candy to running the Zipper – you name it, she’s done it. Since carnies are such a tight-knit group that spends so much time working and partying together, it’s inevitable for friendships and romance to happen.
“I was part of a carnie wedding,” Potts laughed, adding she met her ex-husband on the carnival circuit.
However, the carnie life is not all fun, travel, and romance. Potts said last month someone slashed the tires on one of the games and cut the cord on the Ferris wheel. She added that dealing with rowdy drunks comes with the territory, and thieves will try to steal everything from cash and toys to rides.
Potts’ friend and fellow carnie, 33-year-old Shelley Russell from Meadow Lake, was only 13 when she started working her parent’s carnival food stand. Like Potts, she also met her husband at the carnival and now travels and works with her children, although she said it doesn’t save her from discrimination.
They both agree there’s a misguided perception of carnies, adding that motels will say they’re full when they clearly aren’t.
“It’s just from the reputation that carnies have,” Russell said. “They always think people are drinking or smoking or all messed up. Why should we be treated any different just because of what we do?”
Still, they both said that they love the work and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“I love it,” Potts said. “The travelling, the fact that we put it up and take it down by hand every week – every piece of heavy equipment is lifted by the guys – and you get to work with your friends all the time.”