Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition has unveiled the upcoming fairgrounds programming for its 114th year of operation.
Organizers at the PNE say the 2024 season has brought a number of changes to the layout of the Fair in East Vancouver, including the opening of a state-of-the-art rollercoaster in the Playland amusement park and the construction of a new outdoor ampitheatre, set to open in 2026.
CEO Shelly Frost says on Saturday, we will finally learn the name of the new amphitheatre that will host a variety of music and culture events. Thousands of votes were submitted, with names including the Freedom Mobile Amp, Arch, Rise or Place.
She says due to construction, major concerts have moved to the stage at the Pacific Coliseum.
“And this year, your fair admission is included with your summer net concert ticket,” Frost said Thursday.
Canadian legends The Barenaked Ladies, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Gerry Dee, Colin James and Winnipeg-born Burton Cummings, as well as new Canadian talents Charlotte Cardin and Scott Helman, are scheduled to play the PNE.
Other acts include John Fogerty, Brad Paisley, The Pointer Sisters, Flo Rida, Blue Rodeo, Ludacris, Vanilla Ice, and a Punjabi Virsa night.
The PNE will host an Indigenous festival from Aug. 30 to 31, featuring Indigenous artists, vendors, and music.
“Agriculture has really always been at the heart of the PNE, dating back to 1910,” said Frost.
She says fairgoers can also visit the agricultural area to “get up close and personal with your favorite baby animals and learn about the importance of British Columbia’s agricultural sector.”
There will be a kids discovery farm, livestock barns at a 4H Festival, and displays from partners like the BC Dairy Association, the BC Cattlemans Association, and Poultry in Motion.
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You can also check out an outdoor dinosaur exhibit, cooking demonstrations, and drag performances by the Legendary Rock Icons. Drag performer Jaylene Tyme, who came dressed as Dolly Parton on Thursday, says the PNE is a magical place.
“It’s a place where it is about tradition, it’s family, it’s celebration of community. But most importantly, with what we bring here, it’s saying everybody is invited,” said Tyme.
The PNE Fair officially begins on Saturday, Aug. 17. It will run until Sept. 2.
—With files from David Nadalini