THUNDER BAY – The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition’s annual fair has been a family tradition for more than a century.
That long history of midway rides, carnival games, live music, entertainment and its agricultural roots has no plans of slowing down.
The 128th edition of one of Thunder Bay’s marquee summertime events will run from Aug. 8-12, with advance tickets on sale at city Metro locations starting on Wednesday.
“It’s great we still have a fair. It’s getting tougher and tougher to run this kind of business,” fair chairman Basil Lychowyd said. “It’s something that when you were small you did and now you’re passing it on to your kids. It’s a family thing here.”
The five-day fair, which runs daily from noon to midnight, is expected to draw between 50,000 and 60,000 people.
“I think this year we’re going to have a good crowd and we have some good things here to do for entertainment and people to walk around and see,” Lychowyd said.
The fairground’s Claydon Building will play host to Kids World, which will include a jam-packed entertainment schedule and hands-on and educational stations.
The main stage entertainment lineup includes performances by Glass Tiger, Prism, as well as Canadian country music star Jason Blaine. Another headliner is fair favourite Doug and the Slugs, who will be ringing in their 40th anniversary together in Thunder Bay.
“They’re nostalgic bands. They’re Canadian,” Lychowyd said. “Some of the older people might really know about them because that was there era but there are still some younger generations that follow it.”
For the third straight year, a fireworks display will help close the fair on the Sunday night.
“We’re just as good as anything you see here in Thunder Bay and some might even say ours is the best,” Lychowyd said. “It’s something to come see on the last day.”
Advance gate tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children, with advance ride wristbands for $22.
CLE main stage headliners
- Aug. 8: Glass Tiger
- Aug. 9: Jason Blaine
- Aug. 10: Doug and the Slugs
- Aug. 11: Boom
- Aug: 12: Prism
