F is for FUN at the FAIR

This week, F is Fun at the FAIR!  It's actually the Pacific National Exhibition, but we all just refer to it as the "Fair."  It started on Saturday, August 16th and has been held at Hastings Park in Vancouver since 1910.  Every year it's a huge attraction from mid-August until Labour Day at the beginning of September.  I can remember going to the Fair as a small child with my parents, taking my two little nephews before I had children of my own, and taking my own children when they were small. 

There are several parts to the Fair.  Playland is a great draw for kids and adults of any age with its iconic wooden roller coaster and rides like Atmos-Fear, the Hellevator, the Corkscrew, the Scrambler, Westcoast Wheel, Pirate, etc.  Then there are the games like Whac-a-Mole, Pop Gun, Jump Shot, Ring Toss, Crossbow and more...Don't bother to bring a lunch or dinner because there is more food to try than you can imagine.  The always popular Hunky Bill's Perogies are fantastic, as are the C-Lovers Fish 'n Chips, Gourmet Burgers, the Rib Festival, hot dogs, fries, donuts and pizzas....and more...

Don't forget to visit the Big Red Barn that features all things agricultural where you can actually see a calf being born.  There's Safeway's Farm Country and the Pacific Spirit Horse Show with dressage and jumping and Cattle Penning  in the Agrodome Building.  Also, see 4H clubs in action.

Among the live shows being presented are Super Dogs (an absolute MUST SEE!), pig races, Toon City, Retro Dance Party, Bones and Scully (pirates!), and some new shows - Thunder Drums of China, Mystic India, and Timber! a stompin' lumberjack shindig!   Also, the stars come out in the evenings and this year the Fair is having (among others) Joan Jett, Chilliwack, Air Supply, LeeAnn Rimes, Trooper, Gipsy Kings, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, the Pointer Sisters, and Glass Tiger!  A great lineup this year.  I even remember seeing Tom Jones one year when I was in my early 20s.  A couple of years ago, I saw Hall and Oates!  So exciting!  Here's a shot of Chilliwack who will be performing on August 19th (free with your admission to the fair).

Then there's the always popular Prize Home to wander through.  Ticket sellers are out in full force hawking tickets to win the house or any of a myriad of cars or vacations.  This year's house will be located in the Okanagan town of Kelowna and has had the interior design done by Jillian Harris (who was on the Bachelor a few seasons ago). 

So if you're planning a trip to Vancouver, be sure to come when the Fair is on because you just might want to spend more than one day there.  So much to see, so much to do, and not enough time for it all. There is so much more than I've put in here, so you just have to see it for yourselves.  Oh, I almost forgot about the special thing they have this year - the Game of Thrones Traveling Exhibition - and you can actually sit on the throne and view 100's of artifacts from the show!  Here's my daughter Jamie with husband Jason and their two children.

Finally, don't forget to throw out a thank you to the fascinating Denise Nesbitt, creator of ABCW, and to our favourite Roger, ABCW's administrator.  Also, we're still looking for fabulous volunteers to help visit a few blogs each week, so let Roger know if you're interested. Here's a little slide show of some of my own photos from when Lorne and I went in 2011 - enjoy.