As the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) opens Saturday (Aug. 21) with limited capacity and advance tickets only, caretakers of the Vancouver fair have news about two of its most popular attractions.
The Playland Wooden Coaster will remain closed for the remainder of 2021 during “a major refurbishment project” for the popular thrill ride, built in 1958.
The upgrade should be done for the opening of the Playland season next spring, at a cost of between $500,000 to $750,000.
“Doing this larger refurbishment during a quieter COVID season, combined with wanting to make sure that the Coaster is ready for the next 60+ years as a flagship attraction within the Playland Redevelopment Plan, makes this the right timing,” PNE management said in a news release Friday (Aug. 20).
One of Canada’s most iconic amusement park rides, the Wooden Roller Coaster, will remain closed for the remainder of 2021, including throughout the annual PNE Fair. A major refurbishment project is underway. pic.twitter.com/ALgtAfj34y
— PNE: Pacific National Exhibition (@PNE_Playland) August 20, 2021
Meantime, the famed Challenger Map is coming home to Hastings Park, with plans for its display during the 2022 PNE fair.
The Challenger Map, a topographical scale model of British Columbia made from fir plywood cut into 986,000 pieces, occupied 1,850 square metres of floor space at its original PNE home, in the BC Pavilion complex, from 1954 until 1997. It’s been mothballed at an airport hangar since then.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the family of the late George Challenger and his son, the late Robert Challenger, creators of the Challenger Map, which took the family seven years to construct.
“Our family is so excited that my grandfather’s Map will be returning to its rightful home at Hastings Park,” stated Bill Challenger, president of the Challenger Relief Map Foundation and son and grandson of the map’s creators. “We believe the map is an incredible asset to the people of British Columbia and we’re grateful that it will be on display once again.”
More project details are posted to ChallengerMap.ca, or call 604-253-2311.
A portion of the Challenger Map will be on display at this year’s PNE Fair, from Aug. 21 to Sept. 6.
Just Announced: Migos is coming to the PNE Forum - September 24, 2021. Tickets on sale August 18 at 10am via https://t.co/enN8gJvv2T pic.twitter.com/n3DmEfcubH
— PNE: Pacific National Exhibition (@PNE_Playland) August 16, 2021
This year, for the first time, advance tickets are required for the PNE Fair and must be date-specific, via pne.ca or ticketleader.ca. Admission fees are $15 for adults, $12 for kids/seniors, and free for those aged five and under (must reserve free tickets).
There are no “ins and outs” at the Fair this year, in order to maintain accurate capacity counts.
This year’s fair footprint will be outdoors in Hastings Park.
“Whether listening to great live music, watching a show or enjoying lunch with friends or family, maintaining comfortable distances will be possible across more than 50 acres of beautiful parkland,” fair organizers say. “For 2021 the indoor space will be limited to the Livestock barns, which have high ceilings and are well ventilated.”
The PNE’s primary form of payment is contactless cards (debit/credit/gift cards), and many on-site vendors will not accept cash.
Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the PNE will be closed on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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