Upcoming Event: The PNE Fair, August 22 – September 7

The annual Fair at the PNE runs from August 22 to September (closed August 24 and 31) from 11 am to 11 pm each day. It’s a Vancouver summer tradition: over the last two weeks of summer vacation, the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds come to life for the annual PNE Fair! Filled with rides, games, concerts and shows, agricultural exhibits, markets, and let’s not forget the fair food that spans the weird to the delicious, the PNE Fair attracts young and old from across the city, province and even further afield.

Tickets

This year, adult tickets for the Fair at the PNE start at $7 for the opening weekend, August 22 and 23. Midweek tickets are $15 and tickets for the last two weekends are $25. Buy your tickets online to skip the line ups and save up to $5 per ticket.

What’s On at the Fair at the PNE

The biggest attractions at the Fair at the PNE this year include the SuperDogs, the Summer Nights Concert series, Wizard of Oz on Ice, British Columbia Tattoo and the West Coast Lumberjack Show. Your ticket gets you access to all of these highlights, plus extra entertainment, the Playland midway games and rides, and all of that crazy food!

Entertainment

• The SuperDogs presents Fairy Tails – 50th Anniversary: an enchanting new show bringing together tales and myths to celebrate a quarter century of the SuperDogs!
• Wizard of Oz on Ice: Presented in the Pacific Coliseum with three shows each day, watch Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion glide across the Yellow Brick Road on their way to see the Wizard.
• British Columbia Tattoo: A large-scale spectacle bringing together military bands, drill teams, pipes and drums, dancers, and cultural performers in a powerful celebration.
• Westcoast Lumberjack Show: Could this be any more Canadian? Cheer on the lunberjacks as they compete in log-rolling, chainsawing, axe throwing and more.
• Dueling Piano Kings: A crowd favourite, this all-request show covers everything from classic rock to Top 40, and promises a rollicking sing-a-long atmosphere.

Summer Night Concerts at the PNE

A very exciting part of the Fair at the PNE is the Summer Night Concerts series that will take place under the brand new Arch amphitheatre! The line-up includes Sarah McLachlan, The Beaches, Nelly, The Guess Who, Cynthia Erivo with the VSO and so many more! Tickets start at $66 (including fees and taxes) and include your admission ticket to the Fair at the PNE.

Playland

Add a Playland Ride Pass onto your admission ticket for just $39. While entry to Playland, the fair’s midway, is included in your general admission, tickets for the rides and games – or a pass – are extra. While there aren’t any new rides making their debut this year, Playland’s legendary wooden roller coaster has been joined by the new ThunderVolt Launch Coaster, which takes off with 1.3 Gs of acceleration before dropping a stomach-churning 18 metres! Another newer experience is the Skybender, a single-rider cockpit experience that sends riders soaring through the air.

And all of this is in addition to the agricultural attractions that have been at the heart of the fair since it started back in 1910, with riding demonstrations, a barn full of animals, and interactive exhibits. Head to the pavilions for markets and displays like “Our Potential. Our Purpose”, and the Safeway cooking stage.

Finally, let’s not forget the food! For some people, the whole point of attending the PNE Fair is the weird and wonderful snacks. If you can deep-fry it, you’ll find it! This year’s list hasn’t yet been unveiled, but check the site for updates closer to the Fair.

Ready to book your summer visit to Vancouver? Get the best deal by checking our Specials page for current promotions and offers.

Photo Credit: PNE website