Prince Albert Exhibition Summer Fair. (submitted photo/PAEx website)

By Glenn Hicks

fun of the fair

‘People want entertainment’: PAEx Summer Fair hits refresh button

May 2, 2019 | 2:07 PM

Organizers of the Prince Albert Exhibition Association’s Summer Fair hope new board members with fresh ideas, extensive on-site renovations, and a massive boost in their entertainment offering will help put the week back on the map as the summer attraction.

President Robbie Ross said they acted on calls from the public for things to change.

“The people that pay to come through the gate have been asking for change for many years and it’s been kind of brushed off,” Ross told paNOW. “We need to listen to the people and when it’s the same thing every year they’re going to stop coming.”

We’ve put a lot more emphasis on entertainment _{– Robbie Ross, president PAEx.}

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It appears the board, which includes three new members who joined in November, has listened to the concerns being voiced by the public, according to Ross.

“The biggest comment is ‘I’d rather pay to go to Saskatoon because it changes’ especially from people who’ve grown up in Prince Albert. The general consensus is it’s been the same for the last 30 years, “he said.

So, for the five-day Summer Fair this year Ross said the public will be treated to an abundance of entertainment.

“We’ve moved the arts and handicrafts, photography, horticulture and everything out of the main hall into a smaller room within the exhibition centre and the main hall is going to be entertainment right from the start on Tuesday, July 30 through to Saturday, August 3.

Ross said for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday there would be major grandstand performances every night. Those will include bands and dance events.

“That’s something we haven’t had for many, many years,” he said. “We’ve put a lot more emphasis on entertainment because that’s what the people have been asking for. They still come to see the agricultural side of it, but the entertainment will give them a reason to stick around for the whole day.”

To that end, Ross said their entertainment budget has been increased significantly from $20,000 to over $150,000.

The fair will kick off with the parade on the Monday evening and during the following days there will be chuck wagon races, an interactive reptile show, a circus-style act, the usual amusements and rides, and the fireworks finale.

Addressing misperceptions

In announcing the changes Ross was also keen to point out some untruths about the event not being a safe place to come and the notion that “we have some undesirables, so to speak, that frequent the fair.”

“That’s a common misperception. We’ve actually had very few incidents here on the grounds during the fair the last few years and people believe there’s a lot of things that go on here that actually don’t,” he said. Ross said they had increased their security and there was increased police presence as well in recent years which “has helped tremendously.”

Ross said the focus on entertainment was only one aspect that was seeing a refresh this year, noting major renovations and modernization to the exhibition centre, bathrooms and kitchen.

As the organization continues to prepare for the big week, he wanted to send a key message to the public, especially to those who might not have taken in the event for some time.

“It will be nothing like you’ve had here in the last number of years,” he said.

—

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow