DAWSON CREEK -- It's opening day at 102nd Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede.
The doors swung open this morning at 9:00 a.m. with a junior rodeo, agricultural exhibits, and professional chuckwagon racing set to take place throughout the day in what has been dubbed ‘The Greatest Show in the Peace.’
The infield junior rodeo a main draw this morning with youngsters aged four to 15 competing on bucking bulls.
But one of the biggest attractions, organizer Connie Patterson says, is the opportunity to find love.
"Lots of people meet their loved one here and it seems strange to come to an agriculture fair and meet somebody, but it definitely happened."
The fairgrounds the most likely place for that to happen.
The midway will see the edition of one new ride this year, the drop tower, in addition to over a dozen amusement rides and carnival treats.
The Canadian Pro Tour Rodeo will see horses that compete in the Calgary Stampede make an appearance in Dawson Creek.
"The Calgary stampede horses are here. They bring their bucking horses here with us, and that helps us bring in the top cowboys," said Patterson.
During the five nights of World Professional Chuckwagon Racing attendees will also get an intimate look at the world-class horses.
"Exactly the same thing that you see in Calgary, only here you can go out to and visit them at their camp,” said Patterson.
The Elite Indian Relay Racing is also making a return to the exhibition after debuting last year.
Then on Saturday night, Canadian country-superstar Chad Brownlee and a line-up of other artists will perform.
Patterson says it’s the generosity of the community that makes this event possible every year.
"A lot of people have a job with us, and what they do is they volunteer with their group -- they're whether it's a dance group or a hockey group and then we use them to take tickets, to clean the grandstand, to do all sorts of things."
The rodeo runs at the exhibition grounds on 116 Avenue until Sunday.
Police say there will be increasing enforcement around the grounds throughout the week.
Mounties are asking that attendees follow traffic controls, stay safe, and not drive under the influence.
A full line-up of event schedules and information can be found on the Dawson Creek Exhibition website.
