The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest is a fair with amusement rides, farm animals and entertainment at the Albion Fairgrounds in Maple Ridge in July.
Admission is free and the event features a carnival midway, market vendors, animal shows, antique tractors and other family-friendly things to see and do.
Country Fair at the Albion Fairgrounds
The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest is an annual community event that has been running for well over 100 years.
At the fair there are local bands, a pie-eating contest, pig races, horse shows, a beer garden, food trucks, kids’ activities and even a community church service for those who are interested.
At the country fair there are also sheep shearing and sheep dog demonstrations, market stalls and a magic show, plus a Ferris Wheel and other amusement rides.
The event is a pretty typical small town country fair with lots of farm animals and people from the community. If you’re in the area, check it out!
When and Where
In 2018 the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest is on the weekend of July 28-29.
The fair runs from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm on the Saturday and from 10:00 am until around 6:00 pm on the Sunday.
The event takes place at the Albion Fairgrounds at 23448 Jim Robson Way which is about 10 minutes southeast of downtown Maple Ridge. Some of the events and activities are outside and others are indoors.
2018 Entertainment Schedule
Below is the live music and entertainment schedule for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest in 2018.
(Note: Schedule times, performer and concert details are subject to change.)
Saturday, July 28, 2018
- 10:15 to 10:45 am – Forrás Hungarian Folkdance Ensemble
- 11:15 to 11:45 am – Royal Academy of Bhangra
- 1:25 to 3:15 pm – Bad Moon Risin’: a John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band
- 3:45 to 5:30 pm – West Coast Chicago: a Chicago tribute band
- 6:00 to 8:00 pm – Moving in Stereo: a Cars tribute band
- 8:15 to 10:15 pm – Janis Lives: a Washington State musician who sings in the style of Janis Joplin
Note: Afternoon bands are on stage for about 2 hours each with 20 minute breaks in the middle of each performance.
Sunday July 29, 2018
Live music featuring five area bands takes place on the Sunday from 1:30 until 5:30 pm. Bands scheduled to perform in 2018 are the following:
- Blue Strange – a 3-man Blues and Rock band from Ladner
- Bored Décor – a 3-person Rock band from Vancouver
- Happy Hour – a 4-member Celtic Acoustic band
- Small Town Runaway – Whistler-based musician Christine Sherrington
- Bouna Vedere – a former member of the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa
Amusement Rides
The midway at the event usually includes a Ferris Wheel, bumper cars and a small number of other typical amusement rides.
The rides are scheduled to run from 11:00 am until around 9:00 pm on the Saturday and from 12:00 until 4:00 pm on the Sunday (plus or minus each day).
All-day ride wristbands cost $38 on the Saturday and $28 on the Sunday. Individual tickets cost $1.25 each and little kid rides require 3 or 4 tickets and more serious attractions require between 4 and 6 tickets.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your visit to the fair.
TIP #1: Amusement ride tickets are non-refundable, but also never expire.
TIP #2: The fair technically runs until 6:00 pm on the Sunday. Chances are pretty good though that the place will be fairly quiet around then, with the amusement rides finishing an hour or two earlier. The live music finishes at around 5:30 pm, so after that people will be starting to pack up.
TIP #3: It can get hot in Maple Ridge in late July, and there isn’t a lot of shade at the Albion Fairgrounds. Take a hat and sunscreen, plus drink lots of fluids to keep hydrated.
TIP #4: The beer garden is especially inviting for adults in hot weather. Just remember not to drink and drive – plan ahead how to get home!
TIP #5: There is on site parking at the Albion Fairgrounds. The place can fill up though. Arrive early and carpool if you can.
Other Information
For further details about the event click Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest.
For information about the region, as well as a list of other area events over the course of the year, click Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge.
For lists of other events taking place in the Lower Mainland, check out any of the following:
