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May 13th, 2005, 08:46 AM
PNE to get dramatic remake
Get ready for on-site parade and a slew of new events
Jenny Lee
Vancouver Sun
May 12, 2005
VANCOUVER - The Pacific National Exhibition is planning a dramatic remake of its facilities, bringing in a slew of new community events, resurrecting the PNE parade, and opening an area of the grounds that hasn't been actively used since the 1940s.
"It's the most new things we've unveiled in any one fair in history," PNE president and CEO Michael McDaniel said in an interview.
"It's a big step forward bringing in community, cultural, celebratory and participatory aspects."
McDaniel said the goal is to "give life" to the 17-day fair, to entertain people and allow them to celebrate.
A key change at this year's PNE will be the reopening of Miller Drive -- a historic road that runs between the livestock barns and the race course -- for street entertainment and the parade.
"This is probably our most significant site change since the buildings went down in the early 1990's," PNE representative Laura Ballance said.
Miller Drive, named for the first PNE Board chair J.J. Miller in the 1880s, will feature antique car displays, live performance stages, street entertainment, historic images and concessions. The PNE Parade, dropped in the mid 1990s when site changes made a parade route unviable, will now start on Miller Drive twice daily and wind through the grounds.
The PNE is also introducing events and activities aimed at the growing families and kids market.
Each day of the fair, the PNE will showcase one of 17 Vancouver festivals such as The Vancouver Childrens' Festival. A festival entertainer will perform a one-hour show at the PNE, free to visitors with fair entrance. Festivals will staff a presentation tent.
The program will add diversity to the PNE's entertainment lineup while creating synergy with the city's other events, McDaniel said.
A Monster Mural "paint by number" activity will allow visitors to paint portions of a daily 10-metre-by-one-metre mural on themes such as city neighbourhoods or Vancouver historical events. Completed murals may later be displayed at community venues.
The Garden Auditorium will become a walk-through attraction with a Looney Tunes "themed experience," Ballance said.
McDaniel said fair organizers will also be courting young adults between 20 and 30 years old.
"It's been a group that's been fairly elusive in fairs worldwide," he said. "How do you attract people who don't have kids yet and are maybe too old for the rides?"
He hopes to woo these young adults by expanding the beer garden to 1,000 seats from 500, and adding two live bands a night, and beefing up the Motor Sports Stadium entertainment with the national freestyle Motocross competition.
McDaniel is increasing the PNE Fair's entertainment budget to $2.9 million from $2.3 million and hoping to recoup costs through increased attendance. He's aiming for 950,000 visitors this year compared to 900,000 in 2003 and a dismal 767,500 last year when it rained 13 out of 17 days.
Gate admission will increase to $10 for tickets purchased off site and $15 on site. Last year prices were $8 off site and $10 on site.
This year's PNE fair runs from Aug. 20 to Sept. 5.
NEW AT THE FAIR:
Improvements to this year's Pacific National Exhibition include:
- Reopening Miller Drive for street entertainment and a resurrected PNE parade.
- A daily showcase of 17 Vancouver festivals.
- An expanded beer garden and more live bands.
- Five street entertainers who will perform 15 shows a day.
- Two new rides, the Breakdance and the Gladiator.
Ran with fact box "New at the Fair", which has been appendedto the end of the story.
Get ready for on-site parade and a slew of new events
Jenny Lee
Vancouver Sun
May 12, 2005
VANCOUVER - The Pacific National Exhibition is planning a dramatic remake of its facilities, bringing in a slew of new community events, resurrecting the PNE parade, and opening an area of the grounds that hasn't been actively used since the 1940s.
"It's the most new things we've unveiled in any one fair in history," PNE president and CEO Michael McDaniel said in an interview.
"It's a big step forward bringing in community, cultural, celebratory and participatory aspects."
McDaniel said the goal is to "give life" to the 17-day fair, to entertain people and allow them to celebrate.
A key change at this year's PNE will be the reopening of Miller Drive -- a historic road that runs between the livestock barns and the race course -- for street entertainment and the parade.
"This is probably our most significant site change since the buildings went down in the early 1990's," PNE representative Laura Ballance said.
Miller Drive, named for the first PNE Board chair J.J. Miller in the 1880s, will feature antique car displays, live performance stages, street entertainment, historic images and concessions. The PNE Parade, dropped in the mid 1990s when site changes made a parade route unviable, will now start on Miller Drive twice daily and wind through the grounds.
The PNE is also introducing events and activities aimed at the growing families and kids market.
Each day of the fair, the PNE will showcase one of 17 Vancouver festivals such as The Vancouver Childrens' Festival. A festival entertainer will perform a one-hour show at the PNE, free to visitors with fair entrance. Festivals will staff a presentation tent.
The program will add diversity to the PNE's entertainment lineup while creating synergy with the city's other events, McDaniel said.
A Monster Mural "paint by number" activity will allow visitors to paint portions of a daily 10-metre-by-one-metre mural on themes such as city neighbourhoods or Vancouver historical events. Completed murals may later be displayed at community venues.
The Garden Auditorium will become a walk-through attraction with a Looney Tunes "themed experience," Ballance said.
McDaniel said fair organizers will also be courting young adults between 20 and 30 years old.
"It's been a group that's been fairly elusive in fairs worldwide," he said. "How do you attract people who don't have kids yet and are maybe too old for the rides?"
He hopes to woo these young adults by expanding the beer garden to 1,000 seats from 500, and adding two live bands a night, and beefing up the Motor Sports Stadium entertainment with the national freestyle Motocross competition.
McDaniel is increasing the PNE Fair's entertainment budget to $2.9 million from $2.3 million and hoping to recoup costs through increased attendance. He's aiming for 950,000 visitors this year compared to 900,000 in 2003 and a dismal 767,500 last year when it rained 13 out of 17 days.
Gate admission will increase to $10 for tickets purchased off site and $15 on site. Last year prices were $8 off site and $10 on site.
This year's PNE fair runs from Aug. 20 to Sept. 5.
NEW AT THE FAIR:
Improvements to this year's Pacific National Exhibition include:
- Reopening Miller Drive for street entertainment and a resurrected PNE parade.
- A daily showcase of 17 Vancouver festivals.
- An expanded beer garden and more live bands.
- Five street entertainers who will perform 15 shows a day.
- Two new rides, the Breakdance and the Gladiator.
Ran with fact box "New at the Fair", which has been appendedto the end of the story.