“It’s been a long time since I had such a bad turnover”, the observation of Hugo, one of the oldest fairgrounds at the Caen Easter Fair, which closes this Sunday, May 5, 2024 in Caen (Calvados), After four weeks at the Parc des Expositions. The fairgrounds are less smiling than in recent years. After two very good post-covid editions in terms of attendance, the more than 150 attractions will clearly not have been full this year.
A 2024 edition marked by bad weather and the death of a 64-year-old fairground worker, one day after the opening, killed by a basket while he was working on a ride. Between 550,000 and 600,000 people came to the fair, according to the organizers. The gathering usually approaches a million.
“This year is special, my parents had never experienced this”, Shannon, confectioner at the Caen fair
20 to 50% less turnover according to fairgrounds
“Turnover is down 30% on average at the fair”, recognizes Christophe Pasquet, communications manager for the event. He admits that it’s a somewhat mixed 2024 edition: “These are the hazards of outdoor events. We were dependent on weather which was not really accommodating. It started well as part of the inauguration, last Saturday April 13, with a beautiful day sunny. And afterwards, the weather only got worse throughout the party. Unfortunately, there was also this incident at the start of the party. It’s unfortunate, it’s sad. is a failed act and it’s a human error Nothing to do with a problem related to the attraction itself I think it’s mainly related to the weather and at the same time there are also quite a few people. who wander the aisles and who have an increasingly difficult purchasing power, for which they necessarily spend less and less too”estimates the communications manager.
“The accident had a little impact on attendance”
“I think it makes for a bit of a special atmosphere. I speak with colleagues who are still in front of the rides, it’s a special atmosphere, in the games room too,” confides Gabriel, at the controls of the Sweety ride, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. “We make do with it, we feel a certain drop in attendance, but we try to keep smiling despite all that and please as many people as possible who are present, people are paying attention”adds the showman.
