Today we were at the annual pre-fair press tour, announcing all the new and returning festivities to the PNE for 2025.
The PNE Fair opens this weekend, and runs from August 16th to September 1st, 2025. It is British Columbia’s longest-standing summer celebration, returning with a spectacular lineup of music, family fun, attractions, and community spirit. “This year’s event will once again feature a dynamic mix of entertainment, including internationally renowned performers, innovative new shows, and beloved classics tailored uniquely to the PNE Fair experience.” (As taken from the press release).
This end of summer celebration has new and old generations coming together to form new traditions. With event organizers continuing to make the experience affordable, offering new ways to save through promotional events.
After 115 years, The Fair at the PNE still remains BC’s largest ticketed event. And they are working on expanding, as the construction for the new Freedom Mobile Arch is underway and is planned to open in 2026. This will be a new site for outdoor music, arts, and culture, redefining BC entertainment landscape.
On top of this, the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which features the best women’s hockey players in the world has come to Vancouver. We now have our own team which will be playing out of the Pacific Colosseum. PNE grounds will also be the official fan zone festival arena for FIFA also coming in 2026.
Fun fact: during the excavation of the site, construction teams uncovered a couple of historic cannons, which have since made their way into one of the many visual displays that the PNE is known for.
We begin with a welcoming live performance of KC Bear’s (PNE’s mascot) all Canadian Street Party. Dancers and mascots rode a train on to the scene and performed a wonderful call to celebration, in the name of Canada. This led into the press conference, highlighting everything we can expect for this year at The Fair.
There was mention of the popular summer night concerts, now done indoors. Tickets for any performance includes free admission to The Fair, covering a wide variety of performances and genres. Of which that I recognized was the Counting Crows, Vancouver’s own Mother Mother, Megan trainer and Marinara’s Trench. I went to last year’s Flo rida performance, and he is back this year by popular demand.
On top of the paid for performances there will be plenty of free outdoor musicians and tribute performers, showcased every night on the Freedom Mobile Stage. Free entertainment with “Disco Ballers” and “Puppets on Parade”.
Popular shows and PNE staples like the Dueling Pianos and Super Dogs will be returning. The latter will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. The fan favourite high dive show will be returning and with it they are bringing an aerial stunts show. On the Safeway cooking stage they will be using local farm fresh ingredients, while featuring indigenous chefs. And “Love of Drag” will be hosting a drag inspired circus.
New is “The Big Backyard” activation held in the Italian Gardens. It centres around sports and physical activity and includes 4 different sports activations. There is a 4 versus 4 family basketball game, to see who can score the most free throws. There are even lowered baskets at the height of the littlest players.
In anticipation of Vancouver hosting FIFA you can practice soccer drills and work towards a big score. I enjoyed the giant beer pong set up with red solo garbage cans and red rubber balls.
Agriculture is still heart of the fair and we got to meet two of their stars as we heard from 4H members.
The food component has been a long time stable of The Fair and this year they have introduced a new Chef to oversee all of the concession eats. With his Red Seal Certification and over 25 years of large scale dining experience, Executive Chef Andy Chong and his team are celebrating Canada through their offerings like maple bacon corn dogs and Westcoast seafood chowder poutine. (I will be reporting of the Fair’s biggest eats next Wednesday during the press food tour, so stay tuned for that).
Worth mentioning is that all the good vendors this year will be Canadian and that now you can easily enjoy BC wines with your Fair eats thanks to the new “Guilty Pleasure Wine Pairings”. Show runners have created a one of a kind wine tasting experience featuring classic PNE Fair foods and wine available at The Fair’s Wine Chalet, and we got to be one of the firsts to try this.
The challenge is that corn dogs and mini doughnuts are not what you think of when you think wine and food. However it can be done, and this casual wine pairing curated to either compliment or contrast proves it.
Our first pairing was Diggity Dogs Deep Fried Spiral Pickle paired with Saintly’s Sauvignon Blanc. The extra high acidity in the Sauvignon Blanc helped to cut through the oils of this deep fried treat, made extra decadent with crushed chips and ranch dressing.
Pairing number two was one of BC’s most historic Cheeseburgers. Jimmy’s Lunch is the PNE’s longest standing vendor since
1929. Their fried onions was once voted one of the most iconic scents in BC. It is made with orange Fanta as their not-so secret ingredient, and this was what the Black Sage’s Cabernet Sauvignon pairing was based on.
With fuller and firmer tannins the Cabernet Sauvignon complimented this rich and greasy, classic burger that sticks to your teeth with gummy cheese. I devoured it and this was hands down my favourite of the four combos.
We then went lighter with Saintly’s Rosé and Bulgogi Chicken Dog. The latter is made with PNE’s own house made chicken sausage, it was soft like the bun, so the crispy noodle topping was a nice contrast. Here, the versatile rose with its juicy sweetness cuts into the dull spice of the hot sauce with zesty grapefruit notes.
And for dessert it had to be mini doughnuts. Fundunkers Mini Donuts paired with Saintly’s The Good Sparkling. Bubbles and dessert are such an iconic pairing. The delicate bubbles paired perfectly with cinnamon and sugar granules, offering a savoury mouthfeel.
Overall, this was such a great and new way to enjoy familiar Fair cuisine and I loved it. In short there is so much to see and do at this year’s Fair, and what I listed about is just the tip of the ice berg.
Pacific National Exhibition
2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 5J1
(604) 253-2311
pne.ca/fair2025
