Ex-ceedingly high attendance New record for annual fair

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2009 (6195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A blanket of clouds and a cool breeze greeted crowds on the final night of the 58th annual Red River Exhibition Sunday.

Families squeezed in last-minute rides on the MegaDrop, ordered one final bag of mini-donuts, and spent some quality time out with Dad on Father’s Day.

Three-year-old Talia Mintz visited the Ex for the first time with her father, David and grandfather, Steven.

Talia sat atop her dad’s shoulders, as they wound their way past the concession stands and game booths.

For the Mintzes, Father’s Day traditionally is celebrated with a simple brunch.

Coming to the Ex was a last-second decision, David said.

“We were going to do something, and figured this would be a fun way to spend the day,” said David. “We thought we’d all have a good time by coming here.”

It was an especially good time for young Talia, who enjoyed her first amusement rides, saw the IAMS Superdogs show and won an assortment of stuffed animals.

“It’s particularly fun having her here with us,” said grandpa Steven.

Gary Hollingshead made his way through the kiddie park flanked by his two daughters, Melissa, 11, and Jennifer, 8.

Hollingshead literally had his hands full, with plush animals stuffed under his arms, and several more resting on a Frisbee in his hands.

It was also a last-minute decision — made by his daughters — to spend Fathers’ Day at the Ex, Hollingshead said.

“We thought it would be special to take him,” Melissa said.

“It feels good,” he said. “I can never spend too much time with them.”

It wasn’t just fathers who were celebrated on the final day of Ex. National Aboriginal Day activities included a powwow in the afternoon and the Manito Ahbee Aboriginal Festival Concert in the evening.

A live performance by George Leach was scheduled for the Central Park Stage.

Garth Rogerson, CEO of Red River Exhibition Park, estimated that more than 190,000 people — up from 181,000 last year — attended the 10-day event.

During the past 10 years, Red River Ex attendance has hovered at around 180,000 — mainly in the under-34 demographic, Rogerson said earlier.

In 2008, Edmonton’s Capital EX attracted more than 800,000 people and the Saskatoon Ex brought in 220,000.

A fact-finding mission over the past 12 months confirmed what Red River Ex organizers suspected: Summer fairs cannot live by deep-fried dough and adrenaline alone.

Rogerson said the jump in attendance this year is thanks to a rejuvenated Ex lineup with a host of new exhibits and attractions.

The boost in attendance was no easy feat, Rogerson said.

“All the added features enhanced the fair and drew more people out even though school was still going on,” Rogerson said.

Rogerson is eager for what next year’s Ex might bring, including a new 39,000-square-foot exhibit building.

“We have really exciting things planned for next year,” he said. “We’re really going to take things over the top.”

matt.preprost@freepress.mb.ca

Chew on this

From June 12 to June 21, the Ex sold an estimated:

6,000 bags of candy floss

9,000 foot-long hotdogs

11,000 hamburgers

15,600 candy apples

34,000 regular hotdogs

34,500 litres of soda pop

38,000 cups of lemonade

1,300,000 mini-donuts

… and used an estimated:

11 tonnes of ice cubes

14-tonnes of potatoes for french fries

…all producing an estimated:

9 tonnes of garbage