In recent years, poor weather patterns have dramatically affected the PNE’s annual summer attendance to the point that BC’s largest ticketed event has had to resort to free admission on multiple occasions.
To avoid the possibility of another weather disaster, PNE organizers are considering to move the historic end-of-summer dates to mid-summer in 2018.
The 17-day event typically kicks off in mid August and runs through Labour Day long weekend. Coincidentally, the weather gods have showered that period with twice as much rain when compared to the final two weeks of July. In addition, the weather temperature of the last two weeks of August is slightly lower than the last two weeks of July.
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Given that the Fair at the PNE doesn’t receive government subsidy, the success of the event is crucial for organizers.
Beginning May 11, the PNE will conduct a poll to collect the public’s opinion about potentially changing the fair’s dates.
“We have not made the decision to change Fair dates, we are just exploring the possibility. This is some very preliminary research on a concept that we as an organization have been considering for close to a decade,” says PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance. “The fact is, the weather patterns are changing and over the past 25 years, late August is consistently receiving more rain and experiencing cooler temperatures. Our long standing tradition that has us ending on Labour Day may no longer make sense from a weather perspective. We know that The Fair is a beloved event for thousands of families, so we’re going to talk to British Columbians about what they feel the impact of moving the Fair into a July window would be.”
If the PNE does move forward with the date change, it won’t be in effect until at least 2018. The 2016 Fair at the PNE dates have already been confirmed for August 20 – September 5.
Those interested in sharing their opinion can do so at PNE.ca beginning May 11, 2016.
