Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A DETOUR
VANCOUVER'S SUMMER FAIR
Some of Vancouver's summer events and festivities have been around for several
decades, but only one is still going strong after more than a century. Started in
known simply as the PNE by locals - is held just a few blocks from the northern
end of Commercial Dr (hop on the Hastings St bus number 14 for faster access)
and it's an August tradition for generations of Vancouverites. Starting life as an
agricultural fare and community festival, the fair has done a good job of updating
itself over the years. It continues to be a popular, family-friendly day out, and a
great way for visitors to rub shoulders with locals; it's hard to imagine an event
that caters so well to such a diverse range of interests.
Plan ahead for a successful visit: check the website to see what entertainment
you'd like to catch, then arrive as close to opening time as you can in the morn-
ing. This helps beat the crowds but also gives you the chance to see as much as
possible. The parkland site is crammed with
exhibition halls
and
arenas
; take time
to check out the market halls lined with vendors selling 'miracle' made-for-TV
products. Then head to the
livestock barns
: the PNE is an important agricultural
show for regional farmers, and the barns are lined for the duration with prize
horses, cows, goats and sheep. To keep things lively, there are also
piglet races
that get the crowds roaring. There are
horse shows
in the domed stadium, which
also give a you a chance to take a seat and plot the rest of your day using the
printed program.
Included with your admission (typically around $20) are a wide array of per-
formances running all day. In recent years, these have often included
Chinese ac-
robats
,
motorcycle stunts
and - the star attraction - the
SuperDogs
show. These
talented mutts perform races and stunts for hollering crowds in what has be-
come a PNE tradition. But they're not the only ones showing off: there's
live music
on alfresco stages throughout the day, especially in the evening when nostalgic
acts like Olivia Newton-John and ABBA tribute bands add to the party atmo-
sphere.
Not everyone wants to stick around and watch their parents dance, though,
and there are other attractions. The
Playland fairground
offers more than 50 rides
from dodgems to horror houses, but the top lure for thrill-seekers is the 1950s-
built wooden
rollercoaster
. Coaster aficionados from across North America fre-
quently eulogize this scream-triggering bone-shaker, which reaches speeds of up
