Cloverdale Rodeo

The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is a world-famous rodeo with animals and rides in Surrey. It happens on the Victoria Day Long Weekend in May each year.

The event happens on the weekend of May 19th to 22nd in 2023.

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Click on any of the above links to jump to a specific topic, or continue reading to learn all about the country fair, rodeo and parade.

Surrey’s Cloverdale Rodeo on the Victoria Day Weekend in 2023

The Cloverdale Rodeo is a great family-friendly event, with cowboys competing for over $300,000 in prize money some years and thousands of spectators turning out to enjoy the show and midway attractions.

In a busy year as many as 100,000 people attend the fair, of which close to 20,000 watch the rodeo shows.

For tickets and more information see the Cloverdale Rodeo‘s website.

Cloverdale Country Fair Information

The Cloverdale Country Fair is a family-friendly event featuring a wide range of activities.

At the fair there are lumberjack shows, a Cowboy Rib Fest, country music performances and a giant midway featuring dozens of rides. There is also an Agri Zone with all sorts of animals most years including miniature donkeys, llamas, alpacas, sheep, horses, pigs and more.

You don’t have to like rodeos to enjoy all the entertainment at the fair. It’s a huge event with lots to see and do.

Country Fair Hours & Admission

Admission to the fairgrounds generally costs about $10, plus or minus, but is usually free for children under age 13. Midway rides cost $45 or so for an all-day pass for all ages. Individual ride tickets are also available most years. Parking is usually about $10 per vehicle. Exact prices for the 2023 event are to be confirmed.

In addition to the fair, on the Saturday there is also a parade that normally starts at 10:00 am. It’s free to attend.

Rodeo & Fairground Hours

In 2023 the hours of operation for the Cloverdale Country Fair are listed below (with last entry one hour before closing each day).

Friday (May 19th): 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Saturday (May 20th): 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Sunday (May 21st): 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Monday (May 22nd): 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

For tickets and more information see the Cloverdale Rodeo‘s website.

Admission Prices

As of early March, admission prices for 2023 are to be confirmed.

In 2020 general admission to the Cloverdale Country Fair was going to cost $10 (plus a $1.95 fee) when purchased online. If you bought your tickets at a participating London Drugs store, however, and did so prior to 4:00 pm on Friday May 17th, you could have paid just $8 (and saved a couple of dollars).

With general admission you normally get into the fairgrounds and can usually see the exhibits and some of the shows, but rides and the rodeo are extra (unless you buy a combo pass).

A Gate and Rodeo Combo pass in 2020 was going to cost about $30 online (plus a $3.25 online fee), although children ages 12 and under are always free.

A Midway One-Day Ride Pass typically costs about $45 at the gate, or $35 if purchased online prior to the first day of the fair.

The rides are run by West Coast Amusements who usually sell individual tickets for $1.25 each, books of twenty for $23 and books of forty for $45. A typical ride takes between three and five tickets with little kid rides requiring less and serious adult rides more.

Country Fair Live Entertainment

In addition to amusement rides, exhibits and the rodeo competitions, there is also lots of live entertainment at the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair.

Live Music at the Rodeo

Live concerts usually take place in the Longhorn Saloon on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Scheduled to perform in 2020, until the event got cancelled, was two-time JUNO Award-winner George Canyon who was going to have a concert on the evening of Sunday, May 17th. Other bands in 2020 were going to include Ettinger and Dave Hartney, plus DJ JackD.

Headliner performances a few years ago were with the Ken McCoy Band, Ettinger & Big 50 and the Chris Buck Band. All three groups, as might be expected, played various forms of Country music. Ettinger was back for another season in 2019. The other two headliner bands in 2019 were Dave Hartney and Washboard Union.

Also at the Cloverdale Fair are concerts on the outdoor Lordco Stage. Bands in 2018 included Jackson Hollow, The New Shackletons, Me and Mae and Robert Rowan. Performing both the previous year and again in 2019 were Emily Taylor Adams, Appaloosa, Mascot Dance Party and Whiskey Jane. Also appearing in 2019 were the Promise, The Rollin Trainwreck, The Charlatans and Brad Darrid.

Music at the Longhorn Saloon

Below is the schedule for the Longhorn Saloon in 2019. As you’ll see, Dave Hartney and Ettinger both played all three evenings. Washboard Union, however, performed on just the Sunday night.

The 2023 schedule is to be confirmed. To give you an idea of what to expect, below is the schedule from a couple of years ago.

(Note: Performance times and details are subject to change.)

Friday, May 17th, 2019

7:20 pm – Dave Hartney
8:25 pm – Ettinger
9:30 pm – Dave Hartney
10:35 pm – Ettinger
11:40 pm – Dave Hartney
12:45 am – Ettinger

Saturday, May 18th, 2019

7:20 pm – Ettinger
8:25 pm – Dave Hartney
9:30 pm – Ettinger
10:35 pm – Dave Hartney
11:40 pm – Ettinger
12:45 am – Dave Hartney

Sunday, May 19th, 2019

7:00 pm – Dave Hartney
7:50 pm – Ettinger
8:55 pm – Dave Hartney
10:15 pm – Washboard Union
11:45 pm – Ettinger
12:45 am – Dave Hartney

Cloverdale Rodeo Bronco Ride

Music on the Lordco Stage

Below is what the entertainment schedule looked like for the Outdoor Lordco Stage in 2019. (The 2023 schedule will likely be comparable.)

Friday, May 17th, 2019

5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – The Promise
7:30 pm – Appaloosa
8:45 pm – The Promise
9:45 pm – Appaloosa

Saturday, May 18th, 2019

12:00 pm – The Promise
1:15 pm – Mascot Dance Party
2:00 pm – The Rollin Trainwreck
3:10 pm – The Promise
4:20 pm – The Rollin Trainwreck
5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – Whiskey Jane
7:30 pm – Emily Taylor Adams
8:45 pm – Whiskey Jane
9:45 pm – Emily Taylor Adams

Sunday, May 19th, 2019

12:00 pm – The Charlatans
1:15 pm – Mascot Dance Party
2:00 pm – Appaloosa
3:10 pm – The Charlatans
4:20 pm – Appaloosa
5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – Emily Taylor Adams
7:30 pm – Brad Darrid
8:45 pm – Emily Taylor Adams
9:45 pm – Brad Darrid

Monday, May 20th, 2019

11:00 am – The Charlatans
12:00 pm – The Rollin Trainwreck
1:00 pm – Mascot Dance Party
1:45 pm – Whiskey Jane
2:55 pm – Brad Darrid
4:00 pm – The Rollin Trainwreck
5:05 pm – Whiskey Jane

For tickets and more information see the Cloverdale Rodeo‘s website.

Other Entertainment

In addition to the live music, other entertainment at the fair includes pig races, skateboarding competitions and lumberjack shows, all of which are free to watch with general admission.

Freestyle Skateboarding

The World Freestyle Skateboarding Round Up takes place in the fairgrounds at the Cloverdale Curling Rink and skateboarders compete for up to $10,000 in prizes. The competition took place at the following times in 2019:

Friday, May 17th

- 4:00 to 5:30 pm – Amateur Freestyle Qualifiers
- 5:30 to 7:00 pm – Professional Freestyle Qualifiers

Saturday, May 18th

- 12:00 to 2:00 pm – Amateur Freestyle Semi Finals
- 4:00 to 6:00 pm – Professional Freestyle Semi Finals

Sunday, May 19th

- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm – Amateur Freestyle Finals
- 3:00 to 5:00 pm – Professional Freestyle Finals
- 5:30 to 6:00 pm – Awards Ceremony

Monday, May 20th

- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm – 360 Spin Off & Best Trick Competition
- 2:00 to 3:00 pm – Legends Freestyle Classic Practice Session and Finals
- 3:00 to 4:00 pm – Best Handstand Trick & Longest Coconut Wheelie Competition
- 4:00 to 5:00 pm – Freestyle Demonstrations

Lumberjack Shows

West Coast Lumberjack Show performances are also fun to watch. In 2023 they take place at the fair at the following times:

Friday, May 19th – at 5:30 pm
Saturday, May 20th – at 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm
Sunday, May 21st – at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Monday, May 22nd – at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm

For tickets and more information see the Cloverdale Rodeo‘s website.

Cloverdale Rodeo Details

The Cloverdale Rodeo takes place the entire May Long Weekend, with show times once per day and twice on the Saturday.

Rodeo performances take place in 2023 at the following times:

Friday, May 19th – at 7:30 pm (POOL A)
Saturday, May 20th – at 2:30 and 7:30 pm (POOL A and then B)
Sunday, May 21st – at 2:30 pm (POOL B)
Monday, May 22nd – at 2:30 pm (Competition Finals)

Rodeo events most years include bareback riding, ladies barrel racing, bronco riding, bull riding and mutton busting. There is also a clown act.

What is mutton busting? It involves children 3 years of age or older, but under around 45 pounds, where the little folk try their hardest to hang on and ride a sheep for as long as they can. Fortunately, during the mutton busting, the kids wear helmets and parents can’t volunteer their children at the last minute. If you are crazy enough to want your child to ride a sheep you have to apply in advance, and, for obvious reasons, sign a waiver.

TIP: The rodeo competition on the Monday is usually the most interesting, as it’s the finals. Tickets that day can sell out well in advance, however, so if you want to go book extra early!

Cloverdale Rodeo Mutton Busting — Mutton Busting at the Cloverdale Rodeo

Rodeo Admission Prices

At the Cloverdale Country Fair there is a cost to enter the fairgrounds, plus an extra charge to see the rodeo. It’s definitely worth paying for.

In 2018 it cost $25 to see one of the rodeo shows. Children ages 12 and under, however, were free.

In 2019, if you bought your tickets online, a Rodeo & Gate Combo Pass cost $33 (including a $3 online fee). This got you into both the fairgrounds and the rodeo. Tickets purchased at the gate cost slightly more. 2023 prices will likely be similar.

TIP: We recommend buying tickets in advance online. Not only will you save a couple of dollars, but you’ll skip the lineups at the entrance and avoid being disappointed when the rodeo sells out (which it often does).

For tickets and more information see the Cloverdale Rodeo‘s website.

Falling off Rodeo Bull

Cloverdale Rodeo Parade

The Cloverdale Rodeo Parade was supposed to celebrate its 75th year on Saturday May 22nd in 2021. Starting time for the parade is usually at 10:00 am. It’s a great parade with lots of horses, marching bands, antique vehicles and a cowboy theme.

In 2023 the parade takes place on Saturday, May 20th, starting at 10:00 am. From start to finish, the parade usually lasts for about 2 hours.

There are prizes for top parade entries in a number of categories. Categories usually include non-profit and commercial floats, junior and senior bands, junior and senior marching units, wheeled entries, antiques, comic entries, mounted drill teams, wheeled horse entries, and dance groups.

Cloverdale Parade Route

The parade typically begins in the Cloverdale Town Centre at the intersection of Highway 10 (a.k.a., 56th Avenue) and 177B Street before heading west along Highway 10 to 176th Street.

From there the procession usually goes north to 58A Avenue, then east to 176A Street, and then north to 60th Avenue. Just before it finishes the parade goes south along 177B Street before stopping at 58th Avenue.

TIP #1: Arrive early to get a good spot where you can see.

TIP #2: If you plan to go to the fair after the parade, consider watching from somewhere near the start. That way, when you see the end of the parade, you can race to the fair before the crowds (assuming you can walk faster than the parade).

For more information about the parade see the Cloverdale Rodeo Website.

Rodeo Pancake Breakfast

The Cloverdale Rodeo Pancake Breakfast usually takes place on the Sunday from 9:30 until 11:00 am. The venue for the breakfast is outside Shannon Hall on the rodeo fairgrounds.

Admission to the pancake breakfast is usually by a minimum $3 donation, which makes it a great deal, and proceeds go to a charity (typically the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation).

In 2023 the pancake breakfast happens on Sunday, May 21st, between 9:30 and 11:00 am.