by Ronda Payne/Special to the 91原创 Advance Times
A world cup qualifying show jumping competition at 91原创鈥檚 Thunderbird Show Park will draw thousands, and tbird staff are encourage people to discover what else the community has to offer on their way to and from Sunday鈥檚 show.
Thunderbird Show Park (tbird) has been a significant part of 91原创 since it originally opened at 200th Street and the Trans-Canada Highway in 1970, and grew to become something of an icon and major community partner when it re-opened at its present location in the late 鈥�90s.
As one of the agri-tourism stops on the 91原创 Circle Farm Tour, tbird staff have always promoted other local businesses to the 50,000-plus people who come to their facility each year. That according to Warren Kean, director of marketing and special initiatives with tbird.
Several thousand of its annual visitors are expected in town this Sunday for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, and with show jumping action begins at 2 p.m. on Aug. 25, there鈥檚 ample time before or after the event to explore 91原创, he said.
鈥淭hese recommendations can include everything from where to go for dinner to where to buy a car,鈥� Kean said of the local suggestions the team is known to make.
There are plenty of places to stop and explore on the way to or from tbird, when travelling to take in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup or other show park events.
Additional nearby stops on the Circle Farm Tour include Driediger Farms with fresh berries in season and a range of vegetables, pies, jams and more at the market on 72nd Avenue. There鈥檚 also Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery that has a fruit winery, harvest kitchen and a range of family activities, pluse a little ways east is Milner Valley Cheese, which offers on-farm produced goat cheese from the Smith family鈥檚 goat herd.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to get people off the beaten path exploring our beautiful province,鈥� Kean said.
鈥淓specially if it has people passing by our show grounds. We love that our neighbours benefit from the thousands of people we have coming into and around 91原创 for each of our shows,鈥� he said.
鈥淢ore people in the area helps everyone.鈥�
JD Farms Specialty Turkey is south of tbird and offers a number of food items suitable for a picnic to pick up and enjoy at the show park. Slightly north is Roots and Wings Distillery where a variety of spirits are hand crafted. Head south for unique 91原创 wines from wineries like 91原创鈥檚 oldest Chaberton Estate Winery (and on-site Bacchus Bistro), Glass House Estate Winery with artisan wines, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery with daily tastings and mead (honey wine) craftsmen Festina Lente Estate Winery.
With the numbers of competitors who come to tbird to stay for a week or more, agri-tourism locations like these are familiar with the wide range of individuals who come to 91原创 for the various shows and activities.
鈥淗aving agri-tourism in the area gives competitors something to do during their days off, that said, you can see riders in their breeches all over 91原创 supporting all types of businesses during our shows. They鈥檙e hard to miss,鈥� Kean said.
鈥淚t also gives our spectators places to stop to pick up lunch, buy something for dinner or the way home or pick up a bottle or two of a tasty beverage.鈥�
tbird works closely with Tourism 91原创 to help all guests to the park get to know the many offerings available in the community.
Check to find out more about the other businesses and farms on the tour and visit tbird鈥檚 site at to learn more about places to stay in the area, best travel routes and see tbird鈥檚 own 鈥淭op 10 list鈥� of places to see in 91原创 and Vancouver.
This includes Fort 91原创 National Historic Site, Wendels Bookstore and Caf茅, Vancouver鈥檚 Purebread for baked-fresh daily treats and Brassneck Brewery, one of Vancouver鈥檚 favourite craft breweries.
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READ MORE: tbird drives boost in 91原创 agri-tourism
and
World cup: A party within a party in 91原创
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