The 130th annual Vancouver Island Exhibition begins Friday, Sept. 20 and represents a return to the fall fair roots of the event. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

the big day

‘Ready and excited for a really fun weekend:’ 130th VIEx opens in Nanaimo

Sep 20, 2024 | 5:31 AM

NANAIMO — Returning back to its roots as a fall fair, the 130th annual Vancouver Island Exhibition begins Friday.

Gates to the fairgrounds at Beban Park in Nanaimo open at 10 a.m. all three days, beginning Friday, Sept. 20, with the first rides on the Midway starting at Noon. The park closes at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night, with a 5 p.m. closure on Sunday.

VIEx spokesperson Michelle Solloway said there’s a lot of anticipation and a little uncertainly around a modified park layout and a later schedule.

“We’re just ready and excited for a really fun weekend. Despite all the changes and challenges this year, it’s going to be really good and we can’t wait to see everyone.”

Due to construction of new pickleball courts at the southern end of Beban Park, the Midway is sprawled across most of the fairgrounds instead of concentrated in one area.

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Crews from West Coast Amusements arrived on site Monday, Sept. 16 and have spent the week setting up the rides, which were in use last weekend at the Cowichan Valley Exhibition.

Solloway admitted to a little “chaos” in ensuring all the rides, including some new attractions, are able to fit.

A majority of rides were setup and ready for thousands of people over the next three days at Beban Park in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A change in weekend also afforded the VIEx dates where it wasn’t competing with other fairs on the Island, meaning a large increase in the number of participants in various competitions.

“We definitely expect more, but it’s tough to say. I know that we have over 50 barrel racers entered already, for the home and garden arts we’ve had been dropping stuff off…so that’s getting quite full.”

Aside from the rides and family-friendly attractions, a long list of musical performers are booked for the main stage, beginning Friday afternoon.

“We have Bif Naked and Alli Walker as our two big headliners, but we have a Metallica tribute band opening up for Bif Naked [on Friday] called Master of Justice, before that there’s a Doobie Brothers Experience then the John Barsby School of Rock group.”

Tickets to the fair are on sale both at the gate, and online through the VIEx website.

Those with pre-paid tickets can skip the lineup at the gate, Solloway said.

Lineups can be largely avoided by pre-purchasing tickets online through the VIEx website. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

She added there is limited parking at Beban Park for those looking to drive down, so they’ve set up a shuttle service from Nanaimo North Town Centre.

“There’s free parking in the old Sears parking lot. You can park there, take the shuttle to the fair and we’ll get you back to your car. The shuttle runs every half hour or hour, depending on how busy.”

Regular transit or active transportation options are also available.

One major risk for organizers in pushing the fair back roughly a month from past years was weather.

Forecasters are calling for sunny skies both Friday and Saturday, with rain on Sunday.

“We do have backup plans [if it rains], it really depends on how much rain. Most things can still operate with a little bit of rain but of course if it’s heavy rain we’ll have to adjust the main stage but it just delays things a little usually and we’re usually able to operate through the rain.”

Organizers were dealt a curveball midweek when a vehicle accidentally drove into one of the condemned barns on site, however, no one was injured and the area has been fenced off.

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