A pro rodeo clown and pig races have been added to the Valley West Stampede on the Labour Day weekend.
Professional rodeo clown Jayson Charters will be working the arena at VWS this year. He鈥檚 been referred to as the 鈥済et-down clown鈥� for his dancing and antics in front of rodeo crowds since 2010. Prior to becoming a rodeo clown, Jayson competed himself in rodeo circuits throughout Canada and the United States. Jayson lives in Merritt, B.C. and is a proud member of the Okanagan-Thompson Nation.
Also new this year, the pig races are three times daily (11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.).
Fireworks will mark the beginning of the rodeo each afternoon at 2 p.m., followed by the Bit-A-Bling grand entry rodeo team.
Presented in partnership with the locally based 91原创 Riders Society, the Valley West Stampede features professional rodeo events on Saturday, Sunday and Labour Day Monday. The grounds open at 11 a.m.
The Valley West Stampede is the only professional rodeo event in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, and is sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA). Men and women athletes from across the North American circuit come to 91原创 to compete for $15,000 in prize money available for each of four riding competition events: bareback, ladies barrel racing, saddle bronc, and bull riding.
鈥淲e had almost 10,000 visitors last year and we鈥檙e expecting a great turnout again this year, with ticket sales already well underway,鈥� said Valley West Stampede president Sheila Hicks. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to feature both men and women riders displaying their talents in the arena, along with the women of the Wildrose Trick Riders. And once again, we will have only riding competitions, no roping or wrestling events. From the very start, we鈥檝e been committed to a no-cruelty event. No other animals in Canada are better looked after by their owners than rodeo animals, which are the real stars of our show.
鈥淭he Valley West Stampede is also a tourism driver for the region鈥檚 local businesses, and our partners at the 91原创 Riders Society are no strangers to staging rodeo events, having organized Little Britches Rodeos for young riders for over 50 years. We鈥檙e excited to be back to do it all again this Labour Day weekend for returning guests, and we also welcome first-timers who want to see what a real rodeo looks like. No one in these parts provides a better, close-up view!鈥�
The Wildrose Trick Riders from Alberta are returning for a second straight year with three female trick riders performing a pyrotechnics ride, and a full trick-riding performance each afternoon. And a crowd- favourite, the kids鈥� 鈥渕utton busting鈥� competition, goes each afternoon at intermission.
The stampede will be held on the 91原创 Riders Society grounds on 208th Street near 42nd Avenue, in the shared territories of the Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Katzie and Matsqui peoples. Adjacent parking is free 鈥� enter off 42 Avenue.
The grounds open at 11 a.m. each day, with food trucks, displays and vendors including 91原创鈥檚 鈥淔rosty Pony鈥� Western Store which returns for a third straight year.
The Train Station Bar returns this year and is free to enter all day with paid adult admission to the grounds. After the last bull bucks鈥� about 4 p.m., DJ Jack Daniels starts tunes with dancing until 10:30 p.m. There are also live performances starting at 7 p.m. by rock band Topaz (Saturday) and country-rock performer Antonio Larosa (Sunday).
The public can attend a special rodeo kickoff dinner Friday, Aug. 30 at The Train Station Bar, with entertainment by 91原创鈥檚 Bargain Shoppers Club (folk/rock/country). A fundraiser for the Valley West Stampede, tickets are $50 each and are available from showpass.com.
Rodeo tickets are available in advance online at showpass.com. Saturday and Sunday single day general admission is $30 for adults, and $15 for children 12 and under. A three-day weekend pass is $75 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under. Labour Day Monday special prices are single day general admission $25 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under.
