Friday night fireworks, a headlining country music concert, and a better than ever rodeo experience are a few of the treats in store at one of Cloverdale’s longest-standing traditions, celebrating a milestone this year.
The Cloverdale Rodeo turns 70 this year. (Its counterpart, the country fair, will be 128.)
Set for May 20-23 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, the two events combine thrilling competition with live entertainment, food, and fun for all ages.
The marquee attraction of the four-day event is the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo, featuring the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls competing for cash prizes, along with the popular mutton-bustin’ competition for kids and more.
The rodeo performances – which start Friday, and continue through the weekend – are always popular.
The Stetson Bow
l venue has been renovated and reconfigured for the signature event, thanks to a six-figure investment, says Shannon Claypool (left), president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association.
The bucking chutes have been moved to face the grandstand, so “every seat will have a great view,” he said Monday. “It will make our patrons feel more connected to the action.”
With just 60 days to the start of the 2016 rodeo, preparations for Cloverdale’s biggest party of the year are in high gear.
The fireworks display, returning after a decade or so, “will be just high enough that you’ll have to be on the grounds to see them,” winks Claypool. “We want our patrons to hang around all evening.”
Chad Brownlee, another hot ticket, performs at the Longhorn Saloon Sunday, May 22. Brownlee is a former professional hockey player and award-winning country artist from Kelowna.
“He was actually drafted by the Canucks back in the day,” says Claypool, who has gotten to know Brownlee through the B.C. Country Music Association. “Chad’s just a class guy.” Admission is $10. ‘Beat the line’ tickets available to 9 p.m.
The BCCMA hosts a meet-and-greet at their pavilion, Boots and Buckles, featuring more than 50 artists performing throughout the weekend.
The venue is open to all ages during the day (free admission), and at 8 p.m. becomes and adults only dance hall.
The Longhorn Saloon is one of the most anticipated features of the rodeo, hosting live performances daily by Ettinger and Big 50, and the Ken McCoy Band.
The live outdoor entertainment stage will showcase rising talents all weekend long, including BCCMA nominees Carli and Kennedy (Twin Kennedy), Robyn and Ryleigh, Appaloosa and the Chris Buck Band.
The Western Fine Arts Show will feature works by several dozen arts, with proceeds supporting the C.H.I.L.D. Foundation and the Cloverdale Youth Initiative Foundation, once again offering three, $1,000-scholarships to be awarded to secondary students in their graduation year who are past or present Cloverdale Rodeo volunteers.
“Our non-profit organization is giving back to our community every way we can,” Claypool says, adding the scholarship raises the rodeo’s profile with Surrey’s youth – and helps recruit a new generation of volunteers.
At 70, the rodeo is one of the largest events of its kind, attracting tens of thousands of visitors over the May long weekend to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
It’s an achievement that’s made all the more remarkable by the fact that it’s put on by a core group of one dozen employees and about 300 volunteers, says Claypool, who has just been re-elected president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association, which oversees the rodeo and the day-to-day operations of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
There have been peaks and valleys over the years, from financial problems to bad weather hurting attendance. Even the Canucks on a playoff winning streak, as was the case a few years ago, can wreak havoc with the best-laid plans.
But the organization has been able to get back on an even keel, financially.
Claypool says a lot of the credit goes to general manager Mike MacSorely who took the helm four years ago and his staff.
“One of the nice things about our event, which starts with the Cloverdale bed races Thursday and runs to Monday, is we are great for the local economy for hotel stays, because we are a multi-day event,” Claypool says. “We believe that we contributed somewhere between five and six million dollars to the economy every year. We’re pretty proud.”
Ensuring that longevity is the weekend’s enduring appeal as a family-focused event.
“The country fair has everything from the kiddie rides up to livestock displays through to how to train to be a cowboy or cowgirl at the rec centre. That’s our kids zone,” he said.
Returning favourites in 2016 include midway rides, the West Coast Lumberjack Show, the Agri Zone, Cone Zone, and Envision Kids Zone, along with the 5th annual World Freestyle Round-up, an international skateboard competition that draws professionals from across the globe.
The Rib Fest BBQ Zone is also returning, promising plenty of food options. “That’s been very popular. People can get a rack of the best tasting ribs.”
The Express Clydesdales – a highlight of the 2014 rodeo – are also back this year.
The gentle giants, prized for their rare black and white colour – won over fans in their first appearance in Cloverdale performing at rodeo performances and in the parade.
Admission is $25 for rodeo performances and $10 for entry to the country fair.
Admission to both is free for kids aged 12 and under.
– For more, visit cloverdalerodeo.com
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