No rides on the alleys of the Oulle in Avignon this year. The Luna Park here was scheduled to take place from February 15 to March 15 is canceled due to the health crisis. This funfair drains nearly 30,000 people every year over a month and hosts around 90 fairgrounds.
“The hardest part is the lack of perspective for the 1,500 fairgrounds in the department“- Michel Rabbat, vice-president of the national trade union fairground
This is a new blow for the profession, deprived of fairs and funfairs for several months. This year, Luna Park in Avignon had to blow out his 22 candles. “Fortunately, we had not started to do the electrical installations to secure the premises, but it is heartbreaking, especially since at the moment, we are not running on gold“, says Michel Rabbat, the manager of Luna Park.
After the end of Luna Park on March 15, he had to do the Grenoble fair which is a big meeting for fairgrounds. Also canceled, Michel Rabbat has no appointment until spring. “The hardest part is the lack of perspective for the 1,500 fairgrounds in the department“, explains the one who is also vice president of the national trade union of fairgrounds.
70% loss of turnover
The co-manager of Luna Park, Jean Bruno, has not been able to start his bumper cars since October. He lost 70% of its turnover in one year. “I am 62 years old, I have never experienced this. We did some repairs and maintenance of our structures, but now we are going in circles. “
Jean Bruno is worried about the youngest like his son: “he took over my sister’s business, so normally he knew where he was going, what revenue he could make, but with the crisis, he found himself with a loan and no cash flow“.
Beyond their financial situation, it is the atmosphere that these two fairgrounds lack. “It’s our whole life we are fun fitters“, says with a smile Michel Rabbat.”I can’t wait to meet our customers again, to see their smile every year, it’s magic “, adds Jean Bruno.
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