Millions of people can’t be wrong.
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), held annually in Vancouver since 1910, draws an estimated 2 million visitors each year for fun of all kinds – from food trucks to farm displays, carnival rides to live music.
For many families in B.C., the PNE is a traditional highlight of summer, often serving as a destination for out-of-town road trips, or as an ideal stay-cation activity close to home for those who are local.
Organizers have released this year’s entertainment lineup and 2019 promises a full slate of fun. Highlights include the Superconscious Experience of Reveen, an immersive selfie-photo experience, an impressive series of nightly concerts, and the medieval-style Knights of Valour jousting show – to name just a few.
Mark your calendar
This year, the fair will run from August 17 to September 2, closed only on August 19 and 26, and opening each day at 11 am. Special days offer unique opportunities to save entrance admission, such as Library Day ($6 gate admission with any BC library card) and Seniors’ Day (free admission for 65+). Details on these and other special promotion days are online: pne.ca/ways-to-save
As always, the fair will be held at Hastings Park in East Vancouver.
Bring on the band
The PNE’s summer night concert series, held at the PNE Amphitheatre, includes some of the biggest names in music.
Bill Idol, Smokey Robinson, Colin James, the Beach Boys, and Blue Rodeo are just a few of the featured artists. ZZ Top will be playing, as part of their 50th Anniversary Tour, and I Love the 90s returns with Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Biz Markie and Rob Base.
Other performances will include Burton Cummings, Gin Blossoms, TLC and Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
The full schedule is now available online so visitors can plan ahead and be sure to see their favourite show: pne.ca/summer-night-concerts
Family fun all day long
For many visitors, the fair is all about tradition – from the always popular SuperDogs (with three shows daily) to touring the agriculture displays and visiting with the animals and checking out the beloved PNE Prize Home tour. (Don’t want to wait to see it? It’s online here: pneprizehome.ca).
But each year brings plenty of new discoveries, unexpected surprises, and fresh entertainment – such as this year’s new nightly pyro-musical finale dubbed Electric Fire, featuring flying rockets, live performers, and exploding fire.
The docket is full of all-ages entertainment, from screenings of family favourite films, to dance parties, dozens of performances, and exhibits of all kinds.
And the food selection is no different in its blend of old and new. No fair would be complete without cotton candy and popcorn – but the PNE has also built a reputation for innovative, wild, and sometimes wacky food choices. Dozens of food trucks and stands will be serving up a huge diversity of tastes, flavours, and influences again this year.
Get the details
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Check out full schedules, entertainment lineups, special events and ticket information at pne.ca. Playland Amusement Park, adjacent to the fairground, is already open for the season and will run throughout the fair (separate admission is required) and into September.
Ticket and ride information is available at pne.ca/playland
Category: events
