PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION
The Fair at the PNE opens this Saturday, Aug. 17, and one of the highlights, at least when it comes to rides, is the AtmosFear, a double swing that’s raised 218 feet in the air before spinning 360-degrees at 70 kilometres an hour.
According to the PNE, depending on whom you ask, the ride offers either a “breathtaking experience that offers you an unparalleled panoramic view of the entire city,” or “a height-defying, dizzy blur that leaves you begging for solid ground.”
And that’s exactly the response a co-worker had last year after trying out AtmosFear for the first time with her seven-year-old daughter, who by the way loved the ride and wanted to do it again and again. This year AtmosFear is included in your fair ride pass, along with the Climbing Wall, Pacific Adventure Golf and the Hellevator, another ride I’ll be avoiding.
For younger fair-goers, Kids Playce at Playland provides a great setting for families looking to spend time in a clean, safe and child-friendly space with a special grass picnic area.
Don’t forget guardians of children with a ride pass can accompany them for free on the following rides: the Glass House, Helicopters, Kettle Creek Mine, Merry Go Round, Raiders, Super Slide, Toon Town and Honey Bee Express, and with children over 36 inches on Monster Trucks, Scrambler and the West Coast Wheel. I can attest to the fact the Monster Truck ride is a huge hit with the toddler crowd.
New this year for kids is the Balloon Explorers ride that mimics a hot-air balloon, but is safe for everyone. And instead of rotating at 70-kilometres an hour like the AtmosFear, Balloon Explorer slowly turns 360 degrees giving everyone a great view of the fairgrounds.
Returning to the PNE after a long hiatus is the RCMP Musical Ride with performances at the Agrodome Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. and Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at 2 and 7 p.m.
Anyone who’s read this column in the past will know what a Dal Richards fan I am so it’s great to see the legendary musician is returning to the PNE. Richards has been performing at the fair for more than seven decades and again brings his orchestra of talented musicians to perform songs from everything from the big band era to jazz, rock and pop standards from the 1930s to today.
New to the PNE this year is a 20 per cent reduction in the price of gate admission and parking, as well as Dueling Pianos in the Plaza Beer Garden, Genghis Khan: The Exhibition, and reserved seating and a bigger venue for Summer Nights Concerts. That means you can pay $15 extra to reserve a seat for performances by the Beach Boys, the Jacksons, Melissa Etheridge and more, or see them for free and take your chances on a seat.
There’s even more music taking place at the Agrodome daily, but this party is of the totally tubular kind. The 80s Forever parties take place daily at 2:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Grab your fanny pack and leg warmers and join the party while grooving to the music of your favourite 80s icons, including Madonna, Wham!, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson.
No Fair at the PNE would be complete without fan favourite the SuperDogs. These popular dogs wow audiences every year with their canine stunts.
For a complete schedule of events, and more information about rides, food and more, visit pne.ca. The Fair at the PNE runs Aug. 17 through Sept. 2. But not on Monday Aug. 19 or 26. It’s closed those two days.
