Fair's Dream: Vendors Defend Their Trade at the Start of Puerto del Rosario Carnival

With the carnival kicking off in the island’s capital, two sector professionals, Gladys Acosta and Vanessa Barata, have given a voice to a little‑known itinerant community that lives between roads, festive calendars and families adapting to a nomadic lifestyle.

“We work by spreading illusion; what we do is pure fun,” summarizes Acosta, who has been in the trade for 33 years. The fairground worker explains she wasn’t born into the world of rides; she started very young alongside her husband after discovering the attraction scene during weekend visits to friends in the industry.

“We got involved with a ride and that’s where our career began,” she recalls.

The Fair’s Expectations

Her story contrasts with that of Vanessa Barata, who actually grew up in the fair.

“My father was a fairground worker and I was raised in that environment,” she says. Constant mobility marked her childhood, alternating seasons with her parents and others with relatives so she could study.

“It was fun as a child, but when you have to study you’re separated from your parents,” she notes.

Both agree that the fair is a demanding job, both financially and physically/logistically. The attractions require daily maintenance and constant inspections to ensure safety.

“Every day the ride is tested and inspected before the public gets on,” explains Barata, aware that any incident would affect the entire guild.

The cost of the activity is high: transport between islands or from the mainland, fuel, insurance, technical documentation and staff.

“People see us selling tickets, but behind that there are huge expenses,” says Barata, who tours fairs across the peninsula each year.

Despite the challenges, both defend the fair’s emotional value as a collective leisure space. Acosta points out that, unlike other jobs, hers is not routine but highly dependent on the environment. Many fairground workers rely on grandparents or school residences to look after their children during tours.

“Blessed grandparents,” Acosta comments, recalling how she organized travel when her daughters were little.

All Set

Beyond the work itself, they champion camaraderie among colleagues and the image of their community.

“Years ago there was a stigma against fairground workers,” Acosta remembers, proudly defending it as a dignified profession that has allowed her to support her family.

To mark the start of the Puerto del Rosario carnival, this afternoon from 5:30 p.m. the fairground operators will open their rides at reduced prices to make them accessible to families. Their goal is to keep the tradition and memory of the fair alive as a shared experience and to invite adults to participate even if they are not accompanied by their children.

“There are many types of leisure, but the sound, the smell and the atmosphere of the fair can only be experienced when you’re there,” concludes Acosta. “Take the chance to create memories with family and friends.”