Kiwanis Fair returning to Everett Arena after visa delays cause cancelation last year

The scent of fried dough will waft through the air around Everett Arena as the Ferris wheel spins and children squeal with delight during the triumphant return of the Concord Kiwanis Fair next month.

Last year, the local nonprofit group had to cancel the annual event due to a delay in visa processing for the workers who staff the carnival, operated by Miller Amusements. The Webster-based company employs seasonal workers with H-2B visas, many of whom hail from Mexico.

This year, though, it looks like smoother sailing for the fair, scheduled for the weekend of May 14-17. This will be its 67th year.

Scott Miller said he expects the visas to come through in time, something he hopes for each year, but it’s never a guarantee.

“I guess that’s our biggest challenge right now is the labor force,” he said. “Without them, we can’t go forward.”

While the visa delays last spring coincided with an increasing number of immigration restrictions implemented by the Trump administration, Miller said that the uncertainty over H-2B visa processing has existed for years.

“We’ve been using visas for well over 20 years,” he said. “This is the kind of business we’re in, seasonal. And most people would rather have a year-round job. And then over the years, less and less people want to travel and do this type of work.”

H-2B visas permit U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign workers for non-agricultural and non-specialized work. The landscaping, hospitality, tourism and construction industries commonly use H-2B visa holders in their seasonal labor force. The visas are administered based on a twice-a-year lottery system. Summer workers usually receive approval by April.

For over a decade, the Kiwanis Club has used Miller Amusements for its annual fair, which Kiwanis President Ken Georgevits described as the “kickoff to the summer.”

“Seeing kids smile, laugh, be happy, that’s the Kiwanis Club’s priority one,” he said.

The Kiwanis Club is a non-partisan, non-denominational group that strives to strengthen communities, with a focus on children. The club supports local scholarships, high school volunteer clubs, sports team sponsorships and more — and around 60% of its annual revenue comes from the fair.

“In the absence of the fair, we have some backup funds,” Georgevits said. “The same thing happened with COVID. We didn’t have the fair for two years at all. We had people make special donations.”

With reduced funds, they had to scale back the financial support provided to various groups and scholarships.

Beyond visas and the pandemic, the weather also plays a huge role on the success of the fair, but “there’s nothing you can do about that,” Georgevits said. Still, he always hopes for sunshine.

Miller, for his part, is glad the visas seem to be on track.

“I’m just looking forward to another season and hoping it will be a happy and prosperous year for everyone,” he said.

More information:

The 67th Annual Concord Kiwanis Fair will take place from Thursday, May 14 – Sunday, May 17. Parking is free at the Everett Arena.