Latest news with #ShelleyFrost
Vancouver Sun
21 hours ago
- General
- Vancouver Sun
PNE repatriates military artifacts to Canadian Armed Forces
The PNE Fair got a military twist Tuesday when a collection of artifacts unearthed during on-site excavations early this year were returned to the Canadian Armed Forces. The historically significant collection included more than a dozen First-Word-War-era guns found buried at Hastings Park, first during construction of the new amphitheatre and in a followup dig where more weaponry was located. The ceremony at the Freedom Mobile Stage in Festival Park was attended by military personnel, veterans, dignitaries and curious guests taking in the annual Fair at the PNE. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The repatriation marked the end of a 'decades-old mystery' surrounding the fate of several wartime items long thought lost after going on display at the park shortly after the war. The artifacts were found during work on the new amphitheatre, which is making its debut at the 2025 PNE Fair. 'The discovery of these important pieces of Canadian military history solves a decades-long mystery,' said Shelley Frost, president of the PNE. 'It was an honour to return these items to the Canadian Armed Forces, and equally meaningful to recognize the service of our veterans and active-duty personnel with free admission to the Fair today.' The artifacts included a captured German howitzer and its trailer; four captured German MG08/15 machine-guns, also from the First World War; and two British/Canadian nine-pounder cannons dating back to the 1870s. Two of the nine-pounders will be on display until the end of the PNE Fair on Labour Day, while the full collection will be preserved and exhibited at the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum and Archives in Vancouver. The fairgrounds in Hastings Park were used extensively for military assembly, training and deployment during the war. jruttle@
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
PNE opens this weekend with a big heaping scoop of Canadiana
The Pacific National Exhibition has always been patriotic. But this year, the PNE is taking it to a new level. It's selling Canadian corn dogs. Not only that, the annual fair will be selling West Coast chowder poutine. And apple crumble perogies. The exotic treats are part of the fare from an all-Canadian lineup of food vendors at this year's fair, which opens Saturday and runs to Sept. 1. The fair unveiled its 2025 lineup at a news conference Thursday on Miller Drive, the street between Hastings Park racecourse and the PNE's agricultural barns. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Looming nearby was the striking new curved roof for the 10,000 seat Freedom Arch amphitheatre the PNE is building on the former demolition derby site. It will open in summer 2026. PNE president Shelley Frost pointed to the amphitheatre as part of an 'incredible time of evolution for our organization.' But then, evolution has been constant in a fair that began in 1910. Playing on its family-friendly vibe, the PNE will be transforming the Italian Garden green space beside the Forum into The Big Backyard, a celebration of Canadian sports that has areas set aside for kids to play hockey, soccer, football and basketball. 'They can try their hand at shooting pucks at targets,' Frost explains. 'They can spend some time (practising) their foot skills for soccer, they can try their hand at different sports.' Over on Miller Drive, the fair is hosting an international sand castle competition, with sculptors from Canada, Taiwan and South Korea. The first sculpture was bring finished Thursday — the PNE logo. There will also be the Tatus Festival, showcasing Indigenous music, art and food. It will showcase 127 Indigenous artists with performances on the Festival Stage, including headliners Crystal Shawanda and George Leach. The festival also features Indigenous food trucks and a large Indigenous arts and crafts marketplace. In addition, the fair will have a display of traditional Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) carvers at work. The big news at the site in the off-season was the discovery of several First World War-era artillery pieces. Two German howitzers that were unearthed during the excavation for the amphitheatre will be displayed between the Agrodome and Pacific Coliseum during the fair. The PNE will be handing over the old weaponry discovered at Hastings Park to the Canadian military on Aug. 19, and will be offering free admission to any active duty or retired Canadian armed forces members. The concert lineup at the Pacific Coliseum includes Canadian acts like Tom Cochrane (Aug. 29), Mother Mother (Aug. 21) and Marianas Trench (Aug. 24). International acts include Counting Crows (Aug. 16), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Aug. 17) and Gipsy Kings (Aug. 20). Free concerts on the existing Freedom Mobile Stage in centre grounds kick off with shows by PNE favourite Bobby Bruce, otherwise known as Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band. Nearly Neil plays Aug. 16 and 17, followed by the Fleetwood Mac tribute Dreams Aug. 19 and 20. To help the media get into the spirit of this year's event, the PNE held a 'guilty pleasures' food and wine pairings Thursday, featuring B.C. wines with fair food. A Jimmy's Lunch burger, for example, was paired with a Cabaret Sauvignon from Black Sage winery in Oliver. PNE chef Andy Chong let out the big secret to the delicious onions at Jimmy's Lunch: They season them with orange Fanta soft drink. In case you were wondering, the Canadian corn dog is made with maple and bacon. The West Coast chowder poutine has salmon and cod. Adult tickets to the fair are $20 online, $25 at the gate. Seniors and youth 13-18 are $14 online, $16 at the gate. Kids 4-12 are $7 online, $9 at the gate. Special rates can be found on the PNE website; on opening weekend (Aug. 16 and 17) admission is $7 for online purchases. jmackie@
Vancouver Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
What's going on at the PNE this summer? Find out here
The Pacific National Exhibition has announced the 2025 fair programming and the mix of perennial favourites and new events is sure to be entertaining for families of all ages. There is also no way to see it all in one day. The PNE runs Aug. 16 to Sept. 1, daily, from 11 a.m. to last entry at 10 p.m. The fair is closed on Aug. 18 and 25. Advance ticket pricing ranges from $7 to $20 or at the gate from $9 to $25. A Playland Ride pass ranges from $44 to $55, depending on which pass is selected. A full-season pass is available starting at $65. Tickets and info: The PNE Fair remains B.C.'s largest and longest-standing ticketed event, a cherished summer tradition for over a century. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The PNE Fair is where summer memories are made,' says Shelley Frost, President and CEO of the PNE.' We're bringing together the best of what people love, which is incredible music, fresh attractions, family fun, and the kind of community spirit that defines summer in B.C. We can't wait to welcome guests back for another unforgettable Fair.' Summer Night Concerts, Chevrolet Stage, Pacific Coliseum Announced earlier, the full list of performers can be viewed at . • Music in the Park, Freedom Mobile Stage: Two shows a night with a variety of genres, 7 & 8:30 p.m. Free with admission. Aug. 16, 17: Bobby Bruce's Nearly Neil & The Solitary Band Aug. 19, 20: DREAMS: Canada's Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Aug. 21: Phonix Dance Band Aug. 22: Queer As Funk Aug. 23, 24: Julio Avila Cuban Band Aug. 26: Eagle Eyes: Tribute to Eagles & Joe Walsh Aug. 27: TriloJay Aug. 28: The Motown Show Aug. 29, 20: TATUS Festival Aug. 31, Sept. 1: Luisa Marshall as Tina Turner The SuperDogs present Wild Wild Woof: A SuperDogs Country and Western Spectacle: Dogs of all shapes and sizes display agility skills, speedy races and more. Daily, Agrodome, 1, 3, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. The Big Backyard: A Free Play Zone : Family fun where you can try your hand at hockey, soccer, football, and basketball or simply kick back with a picnic on the grass and soak up the summer shade. I-Flip Show : The ultimate aerial show, with Aerial Bungee, Tramp-Wall, Power Track, and more. Daily 12:30, 2:30 & 5 p.m. For the Love of Drag presents 'Drag me to the Big Top : An 'over-the-top camp under the Big Top. Daily, 2:30, 4 & 5:30 p.m. at Roadhouse Patio & Bar. The Flying Fools High Dive Show : Watch top divers drop from 80 feet in the air into fairly shallow water. Daily, 2, 4:30 & 7 p.m. at the Lagoon Cultural Showcase : Celebrate B.C.'s diverse cultural makeup with dancing, music and more from various groups. Daily, 12:30, 2, 3:30 & 5 p.m. at Festival Park, Freedom Mobile Stage. Remix Inferno — A Pyro Music Spectacular : Pyrotechnics, fire dancing, music mash-ups and more in a sound, light and fire show. Nightly, 9:45 p.m. Festival Park, Freedom Mobile Stage. Street Performers : Music, comedy and more around the fairgrounds. — PNE Pep Band: daily, 1, 2, 3:30 & 4:45 p.m. in various locations — Mariachi Los Dorados: Daily 5:30 p.m. at Lagoon; 6:30 p.m., Roadhouse Corner, 8 p.m. at Agrodome Plaza — Disco Ballers: Daily 5:30 p.m. at Rollerland Corner; 6:30 p.m. at Agrodome Plaze — Mini Rockers: Daily 12:15 p.m. at Agrodome Plaze; 3 p.m. at Miller Drive PNE Prize Home Lottery Display : Check out the PNE Prize Home Display lot and do a digital walk-through of the 2025 PNE Prize Home. See subsidiary prizing ranging from Cadillac and Chevrolet Vehicles, a Woody's RV Travel Trailer, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Trev Deeley, Holland America Cruises and a Beachcomber Hot Tub. All day in the Prize Home Lot. Canoe Cultures : The Canoe Cultures Society is an Indigenous-led non-profit society dedicated to the art and culture of the Canoe. Come to see live demonstrations of traditional Canoe carving techniques as young Indigenous carvers demonstrate their skills on a new canoe and display completed canoes. Also learn and explore traditional Indigenous arts and crafts at our Indigenous Artists demo. The Market powered by Interact Corp : Over 90 different vendors selling a wide range of products. Daily in the Forum The Safeway Cooking Stage : Three daily presentations from some of BC's top chefs promoting locally produced ingredients. Daily, 2, 4 & 6:30 p.m. in the Market PNE Express Train presented by TransLink : Ride a train to the quiet zone around the duck pond an local tree forest. $2 or 1 ride coupon. Catch the train near the entrance to Playland Agriculture at the Fair : The agricultural area goes back to the very first Fair in 1910. See barnyard animals, learn about B.C.'s agricultural sector at the Kidz Discovery Farm, the 4-H Festival, the PNE Chef's Garden, Kids Discovery Farm by Tim Hortons and other displays from our partners at the B.C. Dairy Association, B.C. Cattlemen's Association, and B.C. Egg Marketing Board among others. Aug. 16, 17, free with admission at PNE Livestock Barns Farm Country: A showcase of B.C. agriculture with varied events in PNE Livestock Barns. — Pig Races: Daily, 12, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m. — Magic Show: Daily 1:30, 3:30 & 5:30 p.m. — Pony Rides: Aug. 19 — Sept. 1, 11 a.m. — 8 p.m. — Archery: Aug. 19-Sept. 1, 11 a.m. — 10 p.m. — Horse Demo Show: Aug. 22- Sept. 1, 1, 3 & 5 p.m. For more information on the PNE Fair, visit the .
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
The PNE Fair Celebrates Its 115th Year
Vancouver Watch CTV Morning Live gets a sweet preview of the exhilarating programming in store for this year's PNE Fair with President & CEO, Shelley Frost!
