Attendance was up at this year’s edition of the Bulkley Valley Exhibition, thanks in large part to a rejuvenated entertainment schedule and a revamped kids’ area.
“We don’t have confirmed numbers yet but we were up from last year,” said Bulkley Valley Exhibition coordinator Cindy Savage. “I think we had a lot of things to offer people this year — the concert series, we upgraded our Family Zone and brought in some great activities and a new, larger petting zoo area.”
Extra attention was paid this year to the entertainment lineup, Savage said, as evidenced by big-name Canadian artists High Valley and Faber Drive who wowed the audience on Friday and Saturday night.
“The audience on Friday night [for High Valley] was amazing,” she said. “There were about 1,500 people out front in the pouring rain and they danced and they sang.”
The highlight of the weekend for Savage was the positive family atmosphere of the event.
“Wherever I went, there seemed to be lots of smiling faces and there seemed to be a lot of people doing a lot of different things,” she said.
“It just seemed to be more vibrant. There was a really good positive energy down there this weekend.”
Savage said the 94th annual event would not be possible if it were not for all the sponsors and volunteers.
“We have such a great group of people who dedicate so much time to this event,” she said.
Planning is already underway for next year’s edition of the Bulkley Valley Exhibition and Savage encourages anyone in the community who is interested in helping out to contact the fall fair office at 250-847-3516.