Organizers of the Vancouver Island Exhibition are bucking recent summertime trends for their 130th year, opting instead for a fall fair.
This year's VIEX goes from Friday to Sunday, Sept. 20-22, at the Beban Park fairgrounds.
Michelle Solloway, VIEX spokesperson, told the News Bulletin that this year's dates were changed to accommodate the availability of the midway, but a fall fair hearken back to the event's origins.
"Part of it was to celebrate our 130th and go back to our original roots," she said. "The first fair was in October in 1894 so it was intended to be a fall fair."
A notable celebrity will kick things off, she said, as singer and Canada's Got Talent contestant Raymond Salgado will sing the national anthem at the opening ceremony, followed by a performance from the Canadian horse drill team. Among the performers on the main stage will be Bif Naked and Alli Walker, who VIEX organizers said were big scores.
"Bif is amazing. She's been to Nanaimo a few times before, and she always puts on a really big, loud show, so that's going to be good," Solloway said. "Alli Walker's just been dominating country music the last year, and she's nominated for a female artist of the year at the [Canadian Country Music Awards] … hopefully she can win and we can turn that from a nomination to a winner."
Bif Naked will headline Friday's entertainment lineup, while Walker will headline Saturday's main stage acts. Barsby School of Rock, Metallica tribute band Master of Justice and the Doobie Brothers Experience are also on the long list of entertainers hitting the stage.
Global FMX freestyle motocross, Superdogs and Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling are some of the other planned attractions at the fair.
"For the young kids, we have our Family Fun Zone, which [has] mini golf, there's a maze, farmer-for-a-day, so they can plant things and we have seeds and stuff to give away," said Solloway. "There's lots of games – corn hole, ring toss, that kind of stuff – that's all geared towards families and education."
She said there are many categories in the home arts division for vegetable growers at this year's fair and people will be allowed to enter pumpkins for competition.
Having the exhibition in September presents challenges, as youth sports will also be taking place at Beban Park, but organizers have come up with a solution.
"We're now sharing the park with soccer and hockey and other things that are now happening in September that don't normally happen in August," she said. "Parking is first-come, first- serve, but quite limited, so we've partnered with Clay Tree Society and Nanaimo North Town Centre for free parking … and a free shuttle to and from the park."
For more information, visit www.viex.ca.
