The RCMP Musical Ride is coming to Cloverdale.
In one month the “iconic” horses and riders will parade in the Stetson Bowl in an event that will support three local charities: the Surrey Hospital Foundation, the Surrey Food Bank, and the Cloverdale Community Kitchen.
“The Musical Ride is a well-known tradition, which is recognized around the world, and we are thrilled to have these skilled RCMP officers and their horses perform in our city,” Brian Edwards, the Surrey RCMP assistant commissioner, said in a press release about the event.
Sgt. Tammy Lobb, Surrey RCMP media relations officer, wrote in the release that her force was “excited to welcome the iconic RCMP Musical Ride” to Surrey on both June 24 and June 25.
It’s been several years since the Musical Ride has performed in the city and when it comes back Surrey Mounties will also host an open-house.
She said the Surrey RCMP is inviting the public to attend that open house, which will be located right next to the Stetson, on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
“As we mark the 150th anniversary of the RCMP in Canada today, we are grateful to have the opportunity to hold our annual open house in conjunction with this incredible display and enduring national symbol of our police force,” added Edwards.
The Musical Ride will perform three shows in the Stetson, two on June 24 and one on June 25.
“Audiences will have the chance to see riders take part in intricate formations and drills set to music,” noted Lobb.
She said the open house will be a free event and there will be a variety of hands-on activities and demonstrations for all ages.
Kathy Sheppard, president of the Cloverdale Rodeo Association, said she’s excited the Musical Ride is coming back to Surrey and she’s happy the Stetson Bowl is being used to host other events, after it got revamped ahead of this year’s rodeo.
“The Musical Ride is beautiful to see,” said Sheppard. “Because of what the city has done for the Stetson Bowl, I think this will be the first of many attractions that will come there. We, as an Association, are extremely excited to see it back in Surrey and to see the Stetson Bowl utilized, not just for the Rodeo and Country Fair, but for other things. So hopefully this is the first of many more events for Cloverdale.”
Sheppard said the Cloverdale Rodeo Association is looking at possibly hosting other things in the Stetson Bowl over the course of the year, but they are not currently working on any events right now.
“Absolutely, but we want to walk before we run,” Sheppard noted. “I think that was the city’s intent behind revamping the Stetson Bowl—to use it for other attractions throughout the year. And because it’s such a beautiful outdoor venue, I could see it hosting concerts and festivals there and other horse and agricultural shows.”
The city did a “tremendous job” maintaining the Bowl, Sheppard added, from shoring up the seats in the grandstand to redoing the concession to revamping the announcers booth, and adding new fencing.
“They are so many possibilities for it now.”
Tickets for the Musical Ride are available now online at showpass.com/rcmp-musical-ride-cloverdale/. Tickets are $10 (plus taxes) up to the day of the show when tickets go up to $12 (plus taxes). Tickets will be $15 at the gate. Children 12 & under get in free, but organizers ask that parents reserve those tickets online.
The Musical Ride will perform on June 24 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and on June 25 at 3 p.m. The Surrey RCMP’s open house will be held just outside the Stetson from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 24 and from noon to 4 p.m. on June 25.
The Stetson Bowl is located on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds at 6050 176th Street.
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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