DAWSON CREEK -- After five jam-packed days, the 2024 Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede has officially wrapped up.
Crews have begun tearing down the fairgrounds and plans are already underway for next year's 103rd edition of the fair.
"It was absolutely perfect, except we had that big rainstorm on Sunday and we had to stop the chuckwagons till it quit,” said Exhibition President Connie Patterson.
Final attendance numbers are still being tallied but Patterson suspects just over 50,000 people walked through the gates this year.
“We sold the bleachers out on Saturday night,” said Patterson, with many coming out for the heavy horse, cattle exhibit, and Indian Relay Racing.
“Our children's viewing zoo was absolutely a hit with everybody from three years old up to 12,” said Patterson.
It was also the third year that the exhibition welcomed horses from the Calgary Stampede, building stock for events including the Pro Rodeo.
There were no major public safety incidents aside from one man being left with a bloody nose following an altercation.
The Dawson Creek Exhibition Association is now planning its first ‘Newfie Event’ that will take place in June featuring the food and music of Newfoundland.
“All our Newfoundlanders that are here, we're going to have a weekend here at the Agriculture Fairgrounds and cook Newfie food and have a Newfie band. We've never did that one before, so we thought we'd try that with,” said Patterson.
