Image: L. Gomes / PML / Preparations are underway for the 150th Chilliwack Fair taking place from Aug. 5 - 7.

By Laurice Gomes

150th Chilliwack Fair

Chilliwack Fair going big for its 150th year

Aug 2, 2022 | 1:30 PM

CHILLIWACK — The president of the board of directors of the Chilliwack Agricultural Society, Cathy Oss, is very busy preparing for the long-awaited 150th Chilliwack Fair this upcoming weekend.

“It is, as usual, a chaotic mess with everybody shuffling things around and trying to figure out changes from last year,” Oss said. “Lots of people on-site helping out, lots and lots of volunteers.”

Oss said this year, she anticipates 45,000 attendees for the fair’s milestone year, over the course of its three days.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / President of the board of directors for the Chilliwack Agricultural Society, Cathy Oss.

“We had a fair last year. We were one of the few that did, and last year we ran almost everything, and our attendance was about 80 percent of what we would normally have,” she explained. “So, this one we expect to be full as usual, and maybe more than in past years.”

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Oss remarked that there is a lot that’s new on the agenda for this year’s event, including a concert on Thursday, Aug. 4 to kick-off the fair.

“Our opening night concert is in honour of our 150^th anniversary,” she said. “We have a few new things this year—there is a Canadian military display that hasn’t come before, and there is lots of stage entertainment that’s going on all day.”

The board of directors’ president said there will also be a fashion show featuring trends from the past 100 years with authentic outfits.

“We do have a few heritage displays happening because of the 150^th, and bull-riding is new to us this year,” Oss expanded. “So, Friday night is the professional bull-riding event, and then Saturday and Sunday is the BC Rodeo Association; all kinds of exciting things happening.”

Oss said that after being on the planning side of the fair for 20 years, she has seen it all—and while challenges aren’t welcome, they are a part of the expectation.

“There are always hiccups,” she said, laughing. “Something will happen; it always does. We just take it in stride and carry on. We think we’ve got everything pretty much under control. We have a lot of people who have been volunteering at this event for a decade or more; they pretty much know what to do.”

Oss said that the front gate of the fair is operated by the Ann Davis Transition Society, and hence the organization will receive a share of the gate funds. She further mentioned that parking will be looked after by a local minor sports group, and they will also receive a share of the funds.

“We have about 20 community organizations that are involved in the fair one way or another,” she said proudly. “Some of them are here for exposure, some of them are meeting and greeting the public—lots and lots of groups here.”

For more information on the fair, people can visit chilliwackfair.com.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Some of the food vendors that will be operating during the fair.