Chilliwack Fair & Rodeo

The Chilliwack Fair and Rodeo is a country fair and agricultural exhibition that features farm animals, concerts and antique displays in early August.

In 2023, the fair celebrates its 151st year and takes place from Friday, August 11th to Sunday, August 13th. To learn about all kinds of other things happening on the same weekend, see our August Calendar of Events. To learn about the Chilliwack Fair, continue reading.

2023 RCMP MUSICAL RIDE

The RCMP Musical Ride visits the province of British Columbia every four years. It’s an entertaining show with police officers and their horses performing various formations and drills. In 2023 there are two shows at Chilliwack Heritage Park on Thursday, June 29th. The first show begins at 3:00 pm and the second show starts at 7:00 pm. The RCMP performances run for about 30 minutes each but there are also other performances by local talent to enjoy.

General admission to the show costs $20. Children between the ages of 2 and 12 get in for $10 and toddlers enter for free. For more information visit the Chilliwack Fair website.

Chilliwack Fair

In 2020 the Chilliwack Fair was going to celebrate its 148th year on the weekend of August 7th to 9th. However, due to COVID-19, all in-person activities were cancelled and the fair took place in a revised virtual format instead. The 2021 Chilliwack Fair took place from August 6th to 8th and the 2022 fair ran from from August 5th to 7th.

In 2023 the Chilliwack Fair returns from Friday, August 11th, until Sunday, August 13th.

Chilliwack Fair Location

The event typically takes place at the Chilliwack Heritage Park at 7590 Lickman Road in the town of Chilliwack which is located in the Fraser Valley. It’s close to 100 kilometres from downtown Vancouver, or just over an hour’s drive (in good traffic).

PLAYLAND AND THE PNE!

If you like amusement rides then also be sure to visit Playland and the PNE in Vancouver. Rides at Playland run on select days until August 18th. The PNE Fair, meanwhile, runs from August 19th until September 4th. The best rides in the Lower Mainland are at the PNE!

Fair Hours & Admission

The Chilliwack Fair is usually open from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm on both the Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm on the Sunday.

In 2021, those hours were slightly adjusted. The fair was open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on the Friday and Saturday. On the Sunday it was open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

The 2022 Chilliwack Fair kicked off with a special event on Thursday, August 4th. Gates opened at 6:00 pm and the show began at 7:00 pm. The band Default hit the stage at 7:30 pm, and there were food trucks on-site as well. Tickets for the Thursday kickoff event cost about $22 for adults and $11 for youth (ages 18 and under).

In 2021, a pass for the whole weekend was around $22 and children ages 5 and under were admitted for free.

2023 hours and ticket prices are to be confirmed.

TIP: If you buy your tickets in advance you’ll save a couple of dollars most years.

Chilliwack Fair Activities

The Chilliwack Fair is a fairly typical small-town country fair with farm animals to look at both outdoors and in buildings, vendors selling home and garden products, and country fair competitions. There are pig races, horse shows, agricultural demonstrations, magic shows and various forms of live entertainment.

At the fair there are also pony rides and carriage rides as well as cooking, First Nations wood carving and sheep shearing demonstrations. Animals to look at include everything from cows to chickens to llamas. There is also a model railway to see.

What you won’t find at the Chilliwack Fair is a midway with mechanized amusement rides. There are bouncy castles, however, plus lots of other fun activities for children.

Kids’ Zone with Bouncy Castles at Chilliwack Fair

Fair Program Schedule

There are a ton of different activities and displays that take place at the fair. For an idea of what to expect in 2023, below were some of the top scheduled events for 2021.

Friday, August 6th, 2021

All Day Events

Chilliwack Model Railway Club Display
Dinosaur Display
Face Painting
Goat Milking Demos (Barn 3)
Pony Rides
Poultry in Motion (Barn 2)

Timed Events

10:00 am – 4-H Llama Showmanship (Hi Pro Ring)
10:00 am – 4-H & Open Light Horse Show (Sand Ring 2)
10:30 am to 2:30 pm – Vancouver Circus School Workshops
1:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm – The Magic Guy Gary Savard
3:00 pm – Parade of Power
3:15 pm – Grain Hand Threshing Display & Straw Baling
3:30 pm to 6:30 pm – Vancouver Circus School Entertainers
3:30 pm – Children Peddle Tractor Racing & Candy Scramble
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Ranch Sorting
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm – Opening Ceremonies (Sand Ring 2)
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm – West Coast Thunder Drill Team (Sand Ring 2)
7:00 pm – Judy Tuesday (Main Stage Live Music)
8:30 pm – Head Over Heels (Main Stage Live Music)

Saturday, August 7th, 2021

All Day Events

Chilliwack Model Railway Club Display
Dinosaur Display
Face Painting
Goat Milking Demos (Barn 3)
Poultry in Motion (Barn 2)

Timed Events

10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm – Ranch Sorting
10:00 am to 1:00 pm – 4-H Llama Obstacles (Sand Ring 2)
10:30 am to 2:30 pm – Vancouver Circus School Workshops
10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm – The Magic Guy Gary Savard
11:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm – Ride the Vibe (Freestyle Motorcycle Show)
11:30 am – West Coast Thunder Drill Team (Sand Ring 2)
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm – Antique Tractor Pull Show
12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:30 pm – Draft & Mini Driving Demo (Sand Ring 2)
2:30 pm – Parade of Power
2:45 pm – Grain Hand Threshing Display & Straw Baling
3:00 pm – Children Peddle Tractor Racing & Candy Scramble
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm – 4-H Beef Showmanship/Fitting (Hi Pro Ring)
3:30 pm to 6:30 pm – Vancouver Circus School Entertainers
5:00 pm – Spindle Whorl Dancers
7:00 pm – Kadooh (Main Stage Live Music)
8:30 pm – Todd Richard and the TR Band (Main Stage Live Music)

Sunday, August 8th, 2021

All Day Events

Chilliwack Model Railway Club Display
Dinosaur Display
Face Painting
Goat Milking Demos (Barn 3)
Granma’s Grill
Poultry in Motion (Barn 2)

Timed Events

10:00 am to 11:00 am – Church Service (ATA Chapel)
10:00 am to 1:00 pm – Open Goat Show (Hi Pro Ring)
10:15 am, 12:15 pm, 2:15 pm and 4:15 pm – Ride the Vibe (Freestyle Motorcycle Show)
10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm – The Magic Guy Gary Savard
10:30 am, 2:00 pm – Draft & Mini Driving Demo (Sand Ring 2)
11:30 am – West Coast Thunder Drill Team (Sand Ring 2)
11:30 am to 12:00 pm – Angela Murphy Children’s Book Reading
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm – Antique Tractor Pull Show
1:30 pm, 5:00 pm – Spindle Whorl Dancers
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm – 4-H Dog Agility (Hi Pro Ring)
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm – Vancouver Circus School Entertainers
2:30 pm – Parade of Power
2:45 pm – Grain Hand Threshing Display & Straw Baling
3:00 pm – Children Peddle Tractor Racing & Candy Scramble

Chilliwack Rodeo

At the Chilliwack Fair there is also a small rodeo which runs for a couple of hours each day. Events at the Chilliwack Rodeo most years include bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling and calf roping.

Atchelitz Pioneer Village

The Atchelitz Threshermens Association is an organization that preserves farm equipment and other artifacts of historical significance. They run the Atchelitz Pioneer Village which features a small museum, displays of old agricultural equipment and an outdoor village featuring a collection of heritage buildings.

Admission to the Atchelitz Pioneer Village is by donation. Be sure to check it out while you’re at the fair!