Cloverdale Rodeo

The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is a world famous rodeo that takes place in Surrey over the Victoria Day long weekend in May each year.

Cloverdale Rodeo 2019

In 2019 the fair celebrates its 131st year during the weekend of May 17-20 (which is also the May Long Weekend).

The Cloverdale Rodeo is a great family event, with cowboys competing for over $300,000 in prize money 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.

In this article you’ll find information about the following topics:

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.

Cloverdale Country Fair Information

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

At the fair there are lumberjack shows, a BBQ Rib Fest, country music performances and a giant midway featuring dozens of rides. There is also an Agri Zone with all sorts of animals 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.

FIREWORKS NIGHT

Fireworks night at the Cloverdale Rodeo is usually on the Friday, so likely May 17th in 2019. The show typically starts at 9:30 pm.

Country Fair Hours & Admission

Admission to the fairgrounds costs about $10, but is free for children under 13. Midway rides cost $45 or so for an all-day pass for all ages. Individual ride tickets are also available. Parking is about $10 per vehicle.

In addition to the fair, on the Saturday there is also a parade starting at 10 am.

2018 Rodeo Hours

In 2018 the hours of operation for the Cloverdale Country Fair are listed below (with last entry one hour before closing each day). 2019 times will be similar.

Friday (May 18th): 4 to 11 pm
Saturday (May 19th): 10 to 11 pm
Sunday (May 20th): 10 to 11 pm
Monday (May 21st): 10 to 6 pm

2018 Admission Prices

General admission to the Cloverdale Country Fair last year cost $10 for everyone ages 13 and older. With general admission you get into the fairgrounds and can see the exhibits and some of the shows, but rides and the rodeo are extra.

Admission to the actual rodeo shows costs around $25, although children ages 12 and under are free. A Gate and Rodeo Combo pass last year cost $32 online, which means you saved $3.

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

FREE ADMISSION ON SUNDAY MORNING

TIP: Go to the Pancake Breakfast on the Sunday (so May 19th in 2019), between 9:30 and 9:59 am (so before the fairgrounds officially open). If you do that, for a minimum $3 donation, you get a plate of pancakes plus free general admission to the fairgrounds (or at least that was the case last year).

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 take place in the Longhorn Saloon on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Headliner performances in 2018 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.

Also at the Cloverdale Fair are concerts on the outdoor Lordco Stage. Bands in 2018 included Jackson Hollow, The New Shackletons, Me and Mae, Emily Taylor Adams, the Whiskey Jane Band, Dave Hartney, Robert Rowan and Appaloosa.

Below is the schedule for the Longhorn Saloon in 2018. As you’ll see, the Ken McCoy Band and Ettinger both played all three evenings. The Chris Buck Band, however, performed on just the Sunday night.

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

Friday, May 18th, 2018

7:20 pm – Ken McCoy Band
8:25 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
9:30 pm – Ken McCoy Band
10:35 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
11:40 pm – Ken McCoy Band
12:45 am – Ettinger & Big 50

Saturday, May 19th, 2018

7:20 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
8:25 pm – Ken McCoy Band
9:30 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
10:35 pm – Ken McCoy Band
11:40 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
12:45 am – Ken McCoy Band

Sunday, May 20th, 2018

7:00 pm – Ken McCoy Band
7:50 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
8:55 pm – Ken McCoy
10:15 pm – Chris Buck Band
11:45 pm – Ettinger & Big 50
12:45 pm – Ken McCoy Band

Here’s what the entertainment schedule looked like for the Outdoor Lordco Stage in 2018:

Friday, May 18th, 2018

5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – Robert Rowan
7:30 pm – Appaloosa
8:45 pm – Robert Rowan
9:45 pm – Appaloosa

Saturday, May 19th, 2018

12:00 pm – Robert Rowan
1:15 pm – Mascot Dance Party
2:00 pm – The New Shackletons
3:10 pm – Robert Rowan
4:20 pm – The New Shackletons
5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – Whiskey Jane
7:30 pm – Me and Mae
8:45 pm – Whiskey Jane
9:45 pm – Me and Mae

Sunday, May 20th, 2018

12:00 pm – Jackson Hollow
1:15 pm – Mascot Dance Party
2:00 pm – Appaloosa
3:10 pm – Jackson Hollow
4:20 pm – Appaloosa
5:30 pm – Mascot Dance Party
6:15 pm – Me and Mae
7:30 pm – Dave Hartney
8:45 pm – Me and Mae
9:45 pm – Dave Hartney

Monday, May 21st, 2018

11:00 am – Jackson Hollow
12:00 pm – The New Shackletons
1:00 pm – Mascot Dance Party
1:45 pm – Whiskey Jane
2:55 pm – Dave Hartney
4:00 pm – The New Shackletons
5:05 pm – Whiskey Jane

Other Entertainment

In addition to the live music, other entertainment at the fair includes skateboarding competitions and lumberjack shows, both of which are free to watch.

In 2018 the World Freestyle Skateboarding Round Up event took place in the fairgrounds at the Cloverdale Curling Rink at the following times:

Friday, May 18th – from 4:00 to 7:00 pm with the Pro Freestyle Qualifiers running from 5:30 until 7:00 pm.
Saturday, May 19th – from 11:30 until 6:00 pm with the Pro Freestyle Semi Finals from 4:00 until 6:00 pm.
Sunday, May 20th – from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm with the Pro Freestyle Finals from 3:00 until 5:00 pm.
Monday, May 21st – from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with the 360 Spin Off and Best Tricks Contests from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm and the Best Handstand Trick and Longest Coconut Wheelie Contests from 3:00 until 4:00 pm.

West Coast Lumberjack Show performances are also fun to watch. In 2018 they took place at the fair at the following times:

Friday, May 18th – at 5:30 pm
Saturday, May 19th – at 11:00am, 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 20th – at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm
Monday, May 21st – at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Cloverdale Rodeo Details

The Cloverdale Rodeo takes place the entire weekend, with show times once per day and twice on the Saturday. Admission to the rodeo is about $25 per performance, and free for children ages 12 and under.

Rodeo events include bareback riding, barrel racing, bronco riding, bull riding and mutton busting.

What is mutton busting? It involves children 3 years of age or older, but under 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 audience members cannot volunteer their children to participate.

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.

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

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).

Falling off Rodeo Bull

Cloverdale Rodeo Parade

The Cloverdale Rodeo Parade celebrates its 73rd year on Saturday May 20th. Starting time will likely be 10 am.

It’s a great parade with lots of horses, marching bands, antique vehicles and a cowboy theme.

From start to finish, the parade lasts for about 2 hours.

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 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.

Rodeo Pancake Breakfast

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

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

As a bonus, pancake breakfast attendees who arrive between 9:30 and 9:59 am usualy get free admission to the fair! To qualify you need to arrive before the fair’s official 10 am opening time, plus donate at least $3 for your pancakes.