People who make their living from fairs and festivals can’t get a break with cancellations because of COVID-19 this year.

Billy Nonweiler, owner of Nonweiler Amusements in Lehighton, said that’s the way it has to be, whether they like it or not.

Known for popular rides like the Zipper, Scrambler, Octopus, Raiders Funhouse, Ferris wheel, Pony Carts, Super Slide and more, the Lehighton-based traveling amusement company has found itself at a screeching halt.

Nonweiler said, “If you can’t have a certain amount of people there, you got to stand 6 feet apart, and then if you do get them on the rides, by the time you get them on the rides, then you turn around and you have to sanitize them; that’s a lot of time lost.”

It’s a lot more complicated than a restaurant, because a restaurant, every time a person eats, they clean the table. But rides, it would be practically impossible, would be wasting a lot of time, time is money.”

Nonweiler said the traveling amusement company - in business for 67 years - plays the Palmerton Community Festival, as well as the Pumpkin Patch at Service Team and various others.

“I was born into the business,” he said. “So imagine 67 years of being in the carnival business, and now you’re not going onto the road.”

Nonweiler noted there’s a lot more that goes into the company than meets the eye.

“My big problem is you’ve got truck inspections, ride inspections, insurance costs, workers’ compensation; there’s lot of stuff that has to get done,” he said. “And if you don’t make money, you can’t pay the bills.”

While the bulk of this year may be out of the question, Nonweiler said his concerns are far beyond this summer.

“I’m afraid what to think what might happen if it (the virus) goes on next year,” he said. “In the past couple of years, the weather has not been with us.

“The bills go on, but if you don’t make the profit to pay them, that’s the tough part.”

Nonweiler said he’s grateful that he’s able to still collect some unemployment during these most trying of times.

“Now they passed a law where being a business owner, you can collect some unemployment; that is helping,” he said. “At least we’ll be able to live.”

However, Nonweiler said he realizes he isn’t alone.

“Like fire companies, churches, they depend on this money because this gets them through to buy their equipment, whatever they need money for,” he said. “It’s definitely going to hurt them.”

Entertainment

Randy Cramer finds his band faced with a quiet summer for the first time since The Cramer Brothers formed decades ago.

Cramer said the seven-member band, which also features his brother Ray as the lead singer, is a fixture at local fairs. “We play them all,” he said. “Carbon every year they’ve had it, West End for like 28-29 years.”

Cramer said it will be unique not to perform at the venues they’ve essentially called home.

“It’s definitely different,” he said. “We were put in this situation; we’ve never been put in this situation.

We’re just kind of regrouping ourselves and coming up with a new show.”

Cramer said that while it’s frustrating, he understands why the fairs were canceled.

“Our crowd that we have is an older type crowd, so I’m glad in the respect that an older person comes out and gets sick and something happens, you feel bad,” he said. “This is the first time ever in my lifetime not to play.”

Cramer said he’s unsure if the band will perform at other venues.

”We do have a couple that we’re scheduled for,” he said. “It’s kind of a tough call really no matter what you do.”

Cramer said his son, RJ, who plays in the Brian Dean Moore Band, now plays the fiddle, guitar and more.

“My son’s taking over for me now,” he said. “He’s keeping that family thing going.”

Above all else, Randy said the band will miss not being able to perform at area fairs this summer.

“They’ve been really good to us, the whole area; they’ve always treated us really good,” he said. “Next year will be twice as good.”

That’s basically the approach The Rehrig Brothers are taking, according to lead singer Dave Rehrig, who along with his with twin brother, Dennis (steel guitar) and brother Dean (keyboard) comprise the three-person band.

Dave Rehrig said the band has performed at the Carbon County Fair for the past three years, and also noted they played at the West End Fair about three years ago.

“The followers are calling all the time, (asking) ‘when can we come and hear you,’?” Rehrig said. “We have a nice following, always a good turnout, every year we do the venue they always book us right back the following year.”

Rehrig said the band started when he was about 13 years old.

Now 70, Dave said he and his wife, Brenda, perform as a duo at some of the smaller venues.

“Just singing all the classic country songs that you don’t get to hear as much,” Dave said. “The people love to hear the older tunes, they’re into the classic country.”

Still, the Rehrig Brothers will miss performing at the local venues this summer, but there’s nothing they can do about it.

“This pandemic had to put the brakes on it,” he said. “But we’re looking forward to getting out there and letting it rip.”