Attendace at the Manitoba Summer Fair at Brandon’s Keystone Centre showed everyone was ready to get things back to normal after a two-year COVID shutdown.
Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba President Kathy Cleaver says there were more than 25,000 visitors over the five days, with attendance on the Saturday (June 11) almost doubling numbers from 2019.
“It was nothing less than heartwarming to see the big smiles and hear the screams of delight along the midway”, says Cleaver. “We had just hosted a successful Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, so we decided to go for it. But it would not have been such a huge success without our sponsors – the members of business community who really stepped up to make sure the events went off without a hitch and our visitors had fun.”
A media release from the Provincial Exhibition provided a recap of the Summer Fair. “Fireworks lit up the sky at the end of opening night on Wednesday and then the fair was up and running. There was entertainment each day where families and kids of all ages had front row seats to world-class shows: The Hockey Circus Show, Aaron Matthews Magic, The Silver Starlets Acrobats and the ever-popular Doodles the Clown. The beer garden featured toe-tapping, live music from Nuthin but Trouble and Crossfyre.
During Westman Disabilities Day, organizers also hosted those with limited abilities. The famous Dome building was the site of the Seniors Tea and Dance as well as the wrap-up and rousing Pancake Breakfast Sunday morning sponsored by Cando Rail and Terminals. Market at the Dome was held for two days with more than two dozen vendors selling crafts, brand-name items as well as local wine and mead. Local Food Truck vendors provided visitors with tasty meals made right on site. Competitions were held in the Westoba Ag Centre for Hackney Ponies and Miniature Horses.
“It may sound simple, but we want to say a big, huge thank you,” adds Cleaver. “Thank you to our media friends, volunteers, businesses and most of all our visitors who helped make our dream a reality. Bringing the community together and helping to support the local economy is something that is so important to us.”
Cleaver also says “The Provincial Exhibition typically hires 15 to 20 casual labourers for set up and tear down and to manage operations for the Fair. The Midway travels with about 250 staff and hires around 80 people locally. Brandon is the first Canadian stop after a swing through the U.S.”
The Manitoba Summer Fair generates about $4-millon for the local economy every year.
Next up on the Provincial Exhibition calendar is Manitoba AG-EX October 26th to 29th.
