Astro Amusements

What Astro Amusements does

Astro Amusements is a family-owned carnival midway and amusement rental company founded in 1979 by Ardo Gidaro and headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area, operating today under Andrew Gidaro (Director of Operations and Business Development). The company rents a diversified inventory of TSSA-licensed midway rides, carnival games, inflatables (bouncy castles, obstacle courses, themed combos, interactive games), special rides (the only mobile bungee trampoline and zip line in Ontario, rock walls, trackless trains), carnival game concessions, movie-set props, and a fleet of animatronic dinosaurs (15+ units) to event organizers across the GTA. It also produces its own events — SpringFest TO (March Break), Screemers, and Winter Wonderland (a holiday party center now in its 5th year at the Better Living Center in partnership with Samko Party Services) — and is one of the largest independent concessionaires at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), the venue where the company originated.

The core technology is physical amusement hardware rather than software: rides and inflatables are TSSA-licensed and annually inspected, with four ADR, five ADM, and one ADK certified mechanics in-house and NAARSO/AIMS International staff certifications. The website uses Google Analytics Advertising features for marketing and lead capture, but there is no proprietary software platform — operations run through phone/email/online-form quote requests and full-service delivery (delivery, setup, staffed operation, and teardown).

Revenue is generated through quote-based, one-time event rentals of equipment and through event-production revenue from owned properties and CNE concessions, sold direct to corporate clients (notably GTA construction trade unions), local Business Improvement Area (BIA) street festivals, schools, community events, and film productions. Marketing is primarily organic — Facebook, a content-driven website, and word-of-mouth — with no paid advertising or content programs disclosed. The firm is privately held, bootstrapped, and has no external investors.

Name

Astro Amusements

Legal name

Astro Amusements

Website

https://astroamusements.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Astro Amusements is a family-owned, TSSA-licensed Toronto-area carnival midway provider founded in 1979, renting rides, inflatables, carnival games, special attractions, and animatronic dinosaurs to corporate events, BIA street festivals, schools, community events, and film productions, and producing its own events (SpringFest TO, Screemers, Winter Wonderland) while operating as a major CNE concessionaire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carnival and Midway Equipment Rentals

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Entertainment Centers & Indoor Amusement (Arcades, Trampoline Parks, Indoor Play) (THAAAAAD), Amusement Parks & Theme Parks (THAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Carnival ride rentals
• Midway equipment rentals
• Inflatable bouncy castle rentals
• Mobile amusement attractions
• Corporate event entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental Services: Rental of midway rides, carnival games, inflatables, special rides (zip lines, bungee trampolines, rock walls, trackless trains), and animatronic dinosaurs to events. Services include full-service coordination with venue setup, entertainment booking, and catering for corporate events.
2. Event Production: Company produces its own signature events including annual SpringFest TO (March Break), Screemers, and Winter Wonderland, operating as the largest independent concessionaire at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Astro Amusements rents TSSA-licensed midway rides, inflatable bouncy castles and obstacle courses, carnival games, mobile special rides, and life-size animatronic dinosaurs to event organizers across the Greater Toronto Area, with full-service delivery, setup, trained operation, and teardown. The company also produces and operates its own signature events—SpringFest TO, Screemers, and Winter Wonderland (in partnership with Samko Party Services)—and serves as one of the largest independent concessionaires at the Canadian National Exhibition.

Product overview

Astro Amusements is a family-owned carnival midway ride and amusement rental company operating since 1979, offering a diversified portfolio of rental equipment and produced events. The core product offerings include: (1) Midway Rides such as Berry Go Round, Century Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, Mini Tea Cups, Sizzler, Train Ride, Cars & Motorcycles, Dog Pound, Dizzy Dragons, Red Baron, Great Canadian Carousel, and Mini Pirate Ship; (2) Inflatables including obstacle courses, bouncy castles (15x15, Candy Land, Animal Kingdom), interactive slides (Big Kahuna Water Slide, Jurassic Adventure, Kidz Gym), and inflatable carnival games (Batters Up, Skee Ball, Connect-a-Shot); (3) Carnival Games such as Dunk Tank, Kiddie Striker, Duck Pond, Ring Toss, Basketball, Frog Game, Balloon Bust, and Slushie Stand; (4) Special Rides featuring unique attractions like the only mobile Bungee Trampoline and Zipline in Ontario, Rock Wall, and Trackless Train; (5) Movie Set Rentals for film productions; (6) Animatronic Dinosaurs with themed inflatables and decor; and (7) Produced Events including SpringFest TO, Screemers, Winter Wonderland (holiday party venue in partnership with Samko Party Services), and corporate event services. The company also operates as the largest independent concessionaire at the annual Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SpringFest TO: Annual March Break event produced by Astro Amusements
• Winter Wonderland
• Dinos TO
• Screemers

Products and services

• Midway Rides Rental Rental of TSSA-licensed midway rides such as Berry Go Round, Century Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, Mini Tea Cups, Sizzler, Train Ride, Cars & Motorcycles, Swing Ride, Spinner Ride, Kiddie Car Ride, Granny Bugs, Dog Pound, Wacky Shack, Fun Slide, Dizzy Dragons, Red Baron, Great Canadian Carousel, Grotesque, and Mini Pirate Ship to event organizers in the GTA, with delivery, setup, and trained operators provided.
• Inflatables Rental Rental of inflatable attractions for events in the GTA, including the Justice League Obstacle Course, 65ft Obstacle Course, Tiki Island Obstacle Course, Frozen Combo, 15'x15' Bouncy Castle, Candy Land Playground, Animal Kingdom, Farm Maze, Mini Bounce & Ball Pond, Mickey Park Learning Club, Finding Nemo Experience, Carousel Bounce, Big Top Circus Bounce, Big Kahuna Water Slide, Batman 5-in-1, Jungle Ladder, Jurassic Adventure, Kidz Gym, Pedestal Joust, Sabertooth Tiger Slide, Shark Escape, Roller Racers, Wacky World, Ships Ahoy, Pacific Combo, Wrecking Ball, Corn Maze, 4-in-1 Inflatable Carnival Game, Batters Up, Mini All Stars, Skee Ball, Connect-a-Shot/Plinko, Tic Tac Toe/Connect4, Battle Ship, Mini Soccer Kick, and Soccer Darts.
• Carnival Games Rental Rental of classic carnival games and concession stands to events in the GTA, including Dunk Tank, Kiddie Striker, 30 ft Basketball, Funball, Duck Pond, Balloon Store, Fishy Fishy, 6 Arrows, Bottle Up, Guess Your Age or Weight, Frog Game, Birthday Game, Balloon Bust, World Cup Soccer Challenge, Slushie Stand, and Hoop Shots, with deployment from a fleet of 18+ mobile game trailers.
• Special Rides Rental Rental of unique specialty attractions including the only Mobile Zip Line in Ontario (over 100 ft long), the only Mobile Bungee Trampoline in Ontario (five-station, launching riders 25 feet), a 3-person Rock Wall, and a battery-powered Trackless Train that accommodates up to 18 guests indoors or outdoors without fumes.
• Animatronic Dinosaur Rental Rental of more than 15 life-size animatronic dinosaurs that roar and move, with optional dinosaur-themed inflatables and decor (life-like rocks, palm trees, volcanoes with sound and smoke) for birthday parties, corporate events, school events, and community events.
• Movie Set Rentals Rental of carnival-themed props and equipment for film, television, and commercial productions, including Ferris Wheel, Candy Trailer, Basketball Game, Big Bottle Ring Toss, and Ticket Box for complete midway setups.
• Corporate Event Services Full-service corporate event planning for GTA organizations covering equipment provision, venue coordination, entertainment booking, and catering. Long-term clients include Carpenters Local 675, Carpenters Local 27, LiUNA Local 183, LiUNA Local 506, UA Local 46, and ConDrain Group of Companies.
• Winter Wonderland Holiday Event Center Toronto's only holiday party event center, held at the Better Living Center in partnership with Samko Party Services (now in its 5th year). Features rides, holiday-themed inflatables, decorations, catering, wrapped children's gifts, photos with Santa, petting zoos, magic shows, and carolers.
• SpringFest TO (Annual March Break Event) Annual March Break event produced and operated by Astro Amusements, featuring family rides, inflatables, and amusements.
• Screemers (Horror Event) Annual horror event produced and operated by Astro Amusements.
• CNE Concessions (Canadian National Exhibition) Operation of game concessions and attractions at the annual Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, where Astro Amusements is one of the largest independent concessionaires and where the company originally began in 1979.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Samko Party ServicesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstro partnered with Samko Party Services to create Winter Wonderland - Toronto's only and best holiday party event center, now entering its 5th year at the Better Living Center. Winter Wonderland is a one-stop shop for family holiday parties featuring rides, holiday-themed inflatables, catering, wrapped children's gifts, photos with Santa, petting zoos, magic shows, carolers and more.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conklin Shows: One of the largest Canadian-owned midway and carnival operators, providing rides, games, and concessions at fairs and festivals across Ontario. Directly comparable to Astro on business model, customer segments, and geographic market.
• Catalpa Shows: Canadian carnival midway company providing rides, games and food services for community fairs and festivals. Comparable mid-sized, family-run midway operator competing in the same Ontario event market as Astro.
• Gillette's Midway: Family-run Canadian carnival midway operator serving fairs and special events with rides, games, and food. Directly comparable as a competing mid-sized, family-owned midway provider in the Ontario/Greater Toronto ecosystem.
• World's Finest Shows: Long-established Canadian carnival midway company offering rides, games, and concessions to fairs and exhibitions. Overlaps with Astro on rental-style midway service to municipal and exhibition clients.
• B&L Midway Entertainment: Canadian family-operated carnival midway provider serving fairs and events with rides, games, and food concessions. Closely mirrors Astro's rental/event-driven model in Southern Ontario.

Broad incumbents

• Playdium (Cineplex): Chain of large-format family entertainment centers in Canada featuring arcade games, rides, and attractions. Broader amusement/recreation incumbent with overlapping ride-and-game offerings and indoor FEC positioning.
• Canada's Wonderland (Cedar Fair / Six Flags): Major fixed-location amusement/theme park in the GTA, the largest in Canada. Operates a broader installed-base attraction model rather than mobile midways, but competes for the same family-outing discretionary leisure dollars in the GTA.
• The Rec Room (Cineplex): Cineplex's large-format entertainment venue combining amusement attractions, arcade games, and event hosting. Overlaps with Astro on the corporate/group event and amusement-attraction segments.

Regional players

• Marineland Canada: Canadian amusement park/attraction operator with rides, games, and animal exhibits serving family leisure demand. Adjacent regional peer operating in a different province/region than Astro's GTA core.

Emerging players

• Sky Zone Trampoline Park: National franchised chain of indoor trampoline and active-play parks; serves birthdays, school events, and corporate team-building. Partially overlaps with Astro's inflatable, bungee trampoline and active-play attractions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AstroAmusementsCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astro-amusements

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Astro Amusements