The smell of mini donuts, cotton candy and corn dogs, along with the sound of a variety of music and the traditional sight of a carousel in the sky will soon grace the exhibition grounds as the 101st fair in Prince George will take place Aug. 8 to 11.
Formerly known as the Prince George Exhibition or PGX , the fair, presented by the Prince George Agricultural & Historical Association, is now the British Columbia Northern Exhibition or BCNE.
Each year brings its own adventures with a complete midway, duck and pig races, 4-H animal barns, heavy horse pulls, barrel racing, volunteer fire fighter games, and all-day musical entertainment.
This year the main stage and community stage will feature cover bands Thunderstruck, an AC/DC tribute band, Blaze of Glory, a Bon Jovi tribute band, and Areosmith Rocks in the evening. Local entertainers will perform during the day. The saloon will be near the main stage so everyone can enjoy the music.
"Friday night, Bend Sinister (a progressive indie band from Vancouver) will perform and on Saturday night at the Stetson Stomp, the annual dance, we'll feature Appaloosa, a country band from the Lower Mainland," said fair consultant Della Bondarchuk.
The fair will officially open with the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 5:45 p.m. but the gates will open at 10 a.m. Thursday for Pioneer Day. Seniors 60 years and older can get into the fair for $5. There will be a special section of the fair set up especially for the grey-haired crowd in CN Centre and that's where the quilt fair will find a home throughout the entire fair as well.
Friday is Kids Day when children three and under can attend for free and four to 12 years old get into the fair for $5. The midway and food court will stay open until midnight.
Saturday is Family Day and the midway and food court will open until midnight again and Sunday Farm and Ranch Day will close out the show at 5 p.m.
On Farm and Ranch Day the parking is free from 8 to 10 a.m. and gate admission is just a toonie during those hours. The gates are open early so people can attend the $6 pancake breakfast in Heritage Lane from 8 to 11 a.m. where proceeds will be donated to the local 4-H clubs.
"There's more exhibitors on hand this year than we've had in the past as well as more concesssionaires," said Bondarchuk. "Sunday morning the Farmers' Market will be on hand all day as well."
The traditional agriculture area, where home arts and horticulture items contributed by members of the community can be found on display, will be at the back of Kin 2.
For more information about the fair visit www.bcne.ca
