Food. Market. Rides. Games.
One of the hallmarks of end of summer in Vancouver is The Fair and the PNE, back for its 116th year. And today I got a sneak peek of what guests can expect, 48 hours before their opening weekend; as they set up the fair grounds.
PNE is designed to celebrate connection, share memories, and create new traditions. All with the goal of bringing play for everyday. This year they are expecting hundreds of thousands of people to join in the festivities from all across the province and out of country.
They will be building on what people already know and love about PNE from lumberjacks to super dogs, duelling pianos, the nightly fire show, and the popular Farm Country exhibitions with horse demos and pig races.
Plus orchestrating exciting changes and new shows that will be free with admission. This includes the new Wizard of Oz on ice performance, giant animal sculptures made out of LEGO, daily break dancing, and a daredevil circus act.
This is also the first year that The Fair will include the new Freedom Mobile Arch as its summer concert series venue. Coming from being the official event sponsor of FIFA.
Today we would get a private and intimate look at some of the acts, while celebrating milestones and anniversaries at The Fair.
Starting with the Super Dogs, an anchor of PNE, debuting right here in 1976. Since then it has been 50 years of tours across America, in 3 languages. The Superdogs even have their own feature film and a Broadway musical, and once again this all started at the PNE.
This year marks their 50th anniversary and the three pugs: Snap, Crackle, and Pop were here to help receive the honour. Their goal has always been to show how fun it is to have a dog. Each canine belongs to and performs with and lives their owner who is also their trainer.
THE SUPERDOGS™️ PRESENT FAIRY TAILS
Step into a world of wonder, wagging tails, and larger-than-life adventures with Fairy Tails, an enchanting new SuperDogs™️production inspired by classic tales, modern twists, and original stories you won’t find anywhere else. This heartwarming and high-energy show brings together incredible SuperDogs™️athletes and their trainers to tell stories filled with courage, friendship, and a whole lot of fun. This year’s PNE performance celebrates the 50th Anniversary of SuperDogs™️ honouring five decades of unforgettable moments where it all began. For half a century, SuperDogs™️ have been a cherished part of the fair, and Fairy Tails pays tribute to the memories and joy shared across generations.
Daily at 12:30pm, 3:00pm, & 7:45pm.
Extra Show: 5:00pm (Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Labour Day)
NOTE: August 22nd and August 23rd – 12:30pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm only
New this year is the Military Tattoo Show. We got a look at the Delta police pipe band, who helped to erect the castle back drop that they were marching and playing in front of today.
BRITISH COLUMBIA TATTOO
The British Columbia Tattoo is a dynamic, large-scale indoor spectacle that brings together military bands, precision drill teams, pipes and drums, dancers, and cultural performers in a powerful celebration of music, heritage, and service. The PNE is proud to host this inspiring event, which draws on the grand tradition of international tattoos to blend stirring marches, dramatic choreography, and rich storytelling into an immersive audience experience. Showcasing exceptional Canadian and international talent, the British Columbia Tattoo delivers an unforgettable show of pageantry, pride, and world-class entertainment for audiences of all ages.
Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday August 23rd at 6:30PM
We then travelled from the Argodome to the Pacific Coliseum, for a preview of the highly anticipated Wizard of Oz on Ice. This is the first time that the PNE is hosting an ice show free with admission. Running from August 22 to September 7, 2026, daily showtimes take place at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:30 PM.
This is a musically charged show with special effects, visually stunning costumes, and a unique retelling of the classic story.
Our tour then took us to the Italian Gardens, where the stage is set up of the Westcoast Lumberjack Show. There, top lumberjacks: world champions and record holders are converging to compete in a slew of logger sports. This includes tree climbing, log rolling, axe throwing, and chainsaw proficiency.
We would get a taste of the latter, where we witnessed a live, under a minute demonstration of skill and strength. Our local lumberjack carved a mini chair that he was actually then able to sit on, with his chainsaw. I would then later get to take this marvel home as a souvenir of the day.
WESTCOAST LUMBERJACK SHOW
A PNE classic the Westcoast Lumberjacks return! Come cheer on the Lumberjacks! Watch the fast action chopping, high speed chainsaws, cross-cut sawing, Log Rolling, Flying Axe Throwing, and then make some noise as they climb the giant spar pole.
Daily at 1:00pm, 3:30pm, & 5:30pm
And we ended our morning with food, and the reminder that the PNE is just as much about food, and many (myself included) come just for the food. This year the Reel Mac and Cheese truck is celebrating their 25 years anniversary, and we got to meet the whole family behind this food truck. All their Mac and cheese options are named after or are inspired by movies and actors. We got a taste of their best seller: Kevin Bacon. This is a gooey and cheesy Mac and cheese dish topped with crispy bits of bacon.
