It may still be summer, but fall fair season has arrived.
Here on Vancouver Island, festivities kick off this weekend on the Saanich Peninsula, outside Victoria, with the Saanich Fair, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. The Alberni District Fall Fair follows suit Sept. 5 to 8, then the Cowichan Exhibition, Sept. 13 to 15 in the Cowichan Valley, and the Vancouver Island Exhibition – or VIEX – in Nanaimo Sept. 20 to 22.
Of course, a whole host of smaller communities up and down the Island will also be celebrating the harvest season, with pie and preserve contests, 4-H displays, music and more. If you’re visiting, it’s a great way to get to know the locals and have a little fun at the same time!
Marking 156 years of family fun, the Saanich Fair remains true to its agricultural roots while also continuing to evolve. This year, that evolution includes more than 45,000 square feet of additional midway space and five new rides. Get a sneak peek at the midway Friday, or wait til the weekend to take in all the fair’s many exhibits.
For the youngsters, a new kids zone on the grassy west field includes bouncy castles, ponies, face painters and more, while adults can enjoy at cold bevvie with their meal for the first time, thanks to a licensed bistro. On the entertainment front, the lineup includes rock band Streetheart, local indie legends Jon and Roy, and tribute band Fleetwood Magic plus First Nations dancers, Highland dancers and more.
Plan your visit at saanichfair.ca
Back-to-back-to-back weekends of family fun follow in the Alberni Valley, Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo.
In Port Alberni, an impressive entertainment lineup opens Thursday, Sept. 5, building to Saturday’s headliner, Canadian rock icons Prism. Logger sports take centre stage Sunday, showcasing skills including log chopping, tree climbing, axe throwing and lots more.
A midway, agricultural displays and more round out the weekend. Learn more at albernifair.com
Also celebrating 156 years, the Cowichan Exhibition’s fall fair fills Cowichan Exhibition Park Sept. 13 to 15, with agriculture displays, livestock shows, tractor pulls, Saturday logger sports and loads of entertainment.
Getting the toes tapping from the main stage are Island favourites Eagle Eyes, Thick as Thieves and Sundown, a Gordon Lightfoot Experience, as well as Maxwell Smart and the Porter Brothers.
Get an early start to the fun at the midway and carnival, opening from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, before the rest of the fair opens Friday at 9 a.m.
Visit cowex.ca for all the details, including hours, parking, schedule of events and more.
The fall-themed festivities continue the following weekend in Nanaimo when the Vancouver Island Exhibition comes to Beban Park Sept. 21 to 25.
Among the highlights this year are the SuperDogs, returning with their Happy Together show, tractor displays and parades, Family Fun Zone, Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling and midway.
Headlining the weekend entertainment is the one-and-only Bif Naked. The Doobie Brothers Experience and Master of Justice – for all those Metallica fans – and Barsby School of Rock round out Friday.
Saturday concerts, sponsored by the BC Country Music Association, feature Alli Walker, Joel Lee and the BCCMA Nashville Afternoons Songwriters Showcase, while Bad Moon Riders, a CCR experience and Foreign Influence wrap things up Sunday.
Learn more and plan your visit at viex.ca
– With files from Sam Duerksen
While the Labour Day long weekend tradition will remain true to its agricultural roots, fairgoers will see several expansions and changes this year.
The midway has expanded by over 45,000 square feet and five new rides have been added to the dozens, meaning fewer lineups for the teens and thrill seekers. A sneak peek midway operates only on the Friday (Aug. 30) before the fair opens, which doesn't require an admission fee at the gate.
It will also be the first time there will be a licensed bistro where visitors can enjoy their lunch and a cold beverage.
For the youngsters, a new kids zone on the grassy west field includes bouncy castles, ponies, face painters and more.
Drawing in around 40,000-50,000 people annually, the fair remains the largest agriculture event of its kind on Vancouver Island. It will showcase jams, veggies, livestock, arts and crafts in more than 4,000 vibrant exhibits.
Adding to the excitement are competitions between 4-H clubs. These clubs build youth leadership in agriculture – with categories like animal breeding, shearing and fibre arts – and use the fair to showcase their best.
And what would the fair be without entertainment? This year's diverse lineup includes rock band Streetheart, local indie legends Jon and Roy, Fleetwood Magic plus Highland dancers, First Nations dancers, and more.
At its heart, the weekend is about family fun, with a carousel, bouncy castles, ponies, clowns and so much more.
With so much to do, now comes the hard part – what to try first?
