The 136th MB Summer Fair brought just under 100,000 people to the Wheat City from Wednesday, June 6 to Sunday, June 10 at the Keystone Centre. The turnout marks another successful year for the MB Summer Fair, with people from Gimili, Winnipeg, and all around the Westman area coming to enjoy the event.
“We had a strong turn out this year. Running a courtesy shuttle this year gave us an opportunity to talk one on one with some guests and learn more about what brought them to the fair…” Shared General Manager, Ron Kristjansson. “On Wednesday, we had close to 300 people for the annual Canadian Citizenship ceremony, and there was a lot of young family’s taking advantage of the quieter grounds on opening night. Thursday’s senior’s tea and dance and the evening Pride event and indoor Bingo added new choices, and by Saturday, the grounds were almost bursting at the seams. The weekend horse show was moved indoors this year and filled the Westoba Ag Centre. The Sunday breakfast had close to 1,000 visits and a strong attendance day again for us.”
Kristjansson says that the attendance numbers were right on par with the last four years of the fair, as every year there is a slight difference; up or down in numbers (one – three percent.) These numbers mean that the expectations were met and the fair was yet another success.
“The opening of the Dome Building was a huge highlight for us,” said Kristjansson. “The relocation of our offices came at an already busy time for us, but we were so excited to open the front doors and bring the fair back in. We worked through the confusion of the move and with the help of our dedicated volunteers and staff, succeeded in the production of this significant community event... The restoration of this facility is an immense asset for not only us but for Brandon. Visitor response was very positive even though we are putting the finishing touches on and still ironing out all the bugs. We made full use of the added indoor space in the Dome Building and utilized interior rooms of the Keystone Centre for our Home craft and KidZone. We have the opportunity to add more elements and grow the fair for future years.”
This year it was a coin toss for the crowd favourite ride, but it was evident that the return of the Zipper was a big hit. The Zipper is certainly for adrenaline seeking ride, so it may not be top priority on everybody’s list to do at the fair. The Bumper Cars was another big hit at the fair this year, with a steady line of people always waiting on the ride. Along with those two rides, the Ferris Wheel and the Carousel, as usual were another fan favourite.
“We are always looking for ways to improve and generate new visits every year,” Kristjansson continued. “Public interests is a moving target, staying current on entertainment trends while keeping the traditions of a century old event is something we continue to work on every year. Next year will be the 137th summer fair. We intend to dig deep to find opportunities that will appeal to a wide group of people. Our planning committee will meet this month to evaluate this year’s event and start planning for 2019.”
