Numbers were down this year at Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Country Fest, primarily due to Sunday’s downpour.
Around 16,500 attended the fair this year, said fair manager Graham Vanstone, down from between 21,000 and 23,000 in previous years.
But, he said the turnout for on both Friday and Saturday was amazing.
“We’re very pleased with the number (of) people that came out for our soft opening on Friday and grateful to the people that came out on Sunday, in spite of the weather. So, overall it was a very successful event,” he said.
The newly renamed Tom Cameron Memorial Stage – in honour of the long-time volunteer who passed away at the age of 74 in 2016 – hosted many international dance groups and musical entertainment over the weekend including Downtown Bollywood, The Wild Moccasin Dancers, American Rock Legends, with country artist JoJo Mason headlining the stage Saturday night.
Saturday and Sunday also saw hundreds of 4-H youth showing their animals from dairy cows, beef cows, rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep, and more.
There were blueberry pie eating contests, sheep shearing demonstrations, lumberjack shows, and horse riding competitions.
Graham said even though they had more volunteers this year than last, they still could have used more this year to help with the fair.
Especially with the tear down.
“It takes a lot of work to put an event like this on so we always welcome more volunteers,” said Vanstone.
Currently Vanstone is looking for about 20 to 30 more volunteers to help out with the RCMP Musical Ride on Aug. 12 and 13.
The special event is being held in honour of the 125th anniversary of the fair and will involve up to 32 police officers from across the country riding their horses in a synchronized display set to music.
Cpl. Amber Gambling from Maple Ridge will be one of those officers with her horse Kasper.
Anyone interested in volunteering can email: admin@mrpmcountryfest.com.
For more information about the RCMP Musical Ride go to: https://www.mrpmcountryfest.com/rcmp-musical-ride.