It's Day 2 of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, celebrating 55 years of having a Royal Patronage by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970.
The annual spring Fair dates back to 1906 when it first began, named the Brandon Fair.
"So, it's been a long time standing in the community and became the pinnacle event during Manitoba Spring break," shares Provincial Ex-Operations Manager, Kristen Laing.
There are only 2 fairs in Canada to receive the Royal designation: the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Manitoba, and the Toronto Royal Fair in Ontario. "Which is why we want to continue to show our merit to this unique and just really special milestone that we are able to share within the community and surrounding area," she adds.
The Provincial Exhibition hosts the Royal Winter Fair each year during Spring Break, bringing agriculture competitions and demonstrations to the Keystone Centre making it a fun family event for all ages.
"The Fair was primarily to promote the sale of livestock and to also encourage improvement in the breeding lines and the care of animals. And we still showcase those years after through our rural Manitoba winter fair."
Because of the Royal designation, The Provincial Ex has brought back the Royal Courtyard this year, with multiple food vendors and live entertainment, for folks and families to enjoy the fair and multicultural foods in Manitoba.
"We are also providing amusement and networking support through the trade show and through this Royal Courtyard and are able to bring more aspects of the rural, farmyard, and rural agriculture society into our urban centers and urban families."
The Royal Farmyard is always a busy room, held in the Brandon Curling Club.
"We have several commodities that will be showcasing their area, whether it's dairy farmers of Manitoba, Manitoba pork and so forth. And then we have a hands-on experience that we showcase with Saddle Ridge Farms that come and provide the hands-on opportunities to families and children to be able to see animals right up close and friendly and be able to feed or pat bunnies or chickens or many goats and so forth," adds Laing.
For full details and daily schedules please visit the Provincial Exhibition website and their Royal Manitoba Winter Fair page under the Fairs & Events tab... or click HERE!
