With a big discount on admission for kids, it’s a sure bet more families than ever will be saddling up for the action at this year’s Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair.
Admission is free for children 12 and under to the fairgrounds – and to rodeo performances (provided they’re accompanied by an adult).
The price drop represents a big savings for families, particularly when combined with other ticket discounts.
The move helps bring costs in reach, enabling families to watch the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls compete for $328,000 in prize money at the Cloverdale invitational rodeo, featuring bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding and ladies barrel racing, and then head over to B.C.’s largest midway for rides.
“I would rather see the Stetson Bowl full of families that can now afford to buy an armband for the kids because they don’t have to spend $20 for the rodeo,” says Shannon Claypool, president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association.
Rodeo tickets are $20 for all performances except for Monday’s finals, which are $25. Country recording artist Kenny Hess will be performing at the Stetson Bowl daily, as will award-winning rope artist Tomas Garcilazo, who returns to Cloverdale this year.
Hess is a traditional artist who’s won multiple awards, and has toured with some of the biggest names in country music, Claypool says.
The Cowboy Cook-off BBQ Competition and Rib Fest is back, too, offering a traditional, Southern-style barbecue competition with a rib fest.
The 2nd Annual World Freestyle Round-Up Skateboard Championships return, along with 40 international and Canadian competitors for four days of amazing feats and stunts in the Cloverdale Curling Rink.
The Kidz Zone has a fun-filled lineup of entertainment, including Judi the Manners Lady, and 18,000 square feet of games, interactive displays, songs, dance, art and more.
Outside, the new Cone Zone Go-Kart ride, presented by Cloverdale-based Mainroad Group, will teach future drivers (youth aged 10 to 16) road safety in a construction zone.
“I think it’s a really exciting event,” says Claypool, who notes there will be actual construction equipment on site, including trucks, cranes and roadside workers. The attraction launches the Cone Zone Safety Campaign, coinciding with the start of summer road construction season. Bob Nielsen and the team at Mainroad Group realized it’s an ideal time to teach people about how to legally, safely and efficiently navigate construction areas, something that’s absent from most drivers ed courses.
“I think that’s going to be a great, interactive program,” Claypool says.
The nightly Youth Stage and 13 to 18 Teen Night Club (Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m.) is a new feature aimed at teenagers.
Organized by Cloverdale DJ Carson Hoy, the stage will feature live local talent, followed by a night club with a massive sound system and light show – again, free with grounds admission.
“We want everyone to have fun, all ages,” Claypool says. That’s what we’re trying to cater to.”
For those 19 and older, there’s nightly live entertainment in the Longhorn Saloon with The Ken McCoy Band and Dr. Strangelove. There’s also live performances on the outdoor stage all weekend.
New, higher-quality food vendors have been lined up for the food court, and the fairground layout has been improved.
And none of it could happen without an army of about 300 dedicated volunteers who work behind-the-scenes and as ambassadors to ensure everything runs smoothly.
“We have some people who basically come in from Hope,” Claypool says. “They drive in from Hope for our meetings, and during the rodeo they camp on the grounds for the week. That’s dedication.”
The Cloverdale Rodeo, Claypool is rightfully proud to note, is the biggest community event as an economic generator in the City of Surrey.
“We have a staff of about 10 people, and the rest is volunteers. It’s a nice thing to be part of,” says Claypool, who is a volunteer himself.
He has a favourite expression: “Hey, this ain’t my first rodeo.” In fact, he doesn’t know how many years he’s been involved on the board of directors.
“This is something like my 15th or 16th rodeo,” he says, admitting he’s genuinely lost count.
Despite logging hundreds of volunteer hours (as do others on the board of directors) each year, Claypool is still as excited as he was as a young boy sneaking into the rodeo each year.
With the Cloverdale Rodeo’s combination of the tried and true rodeo events combined with new attractions and events added every year, it’s easy to see why he’s still as excited as he was as a youngster. “I’m looking forward to it,” he says.
For more, including a list of events, performances, competitors, and tickets, visit cloverdalerodeo.com, and more stories, photos and features at cloverdalereporter.com.