The Pacific National Exhibition is cutting two days from its usual 17-day fair schedule to reduce operating costs, and organizers have promised to pass the savings onto guests.
The non-profit organization that runs the PNE said the first two Mondays are traditionally the slowest days of the event, and will be axed this year.
As a result, general admission and parking prices at the fair will be slashed by 20 per cent.
“As is part of our normal due diligence, we have assessed a number of factors within the current economic climate which have challenged every event, business and family in this province,” PNE spokeswoman Laura Ballance said in a statement.
“Closing on those two Mondays will allow us to pass on significant savings, making the fair at the PNE more accessible for every family in B.C.”
Adult ticket prices this year will drop from $20 to $16, while free entry will still be provided to children 13 and under.
Attendance numbers at the PNE have been steadily declining for years, a problem Ballance suggested may have been due to ticket prices becoming prohibitively expensive for families.
There were just 763,689 visitors at the fair last year, down from 803,598 in 2011 and 937,485 in 2010.
Organizers said additional savings on rides, admissions and food will be announced closer to the fair date.
This year’s fair will run from Aug. 17 to Sept. 2. The Monday closures will take place on Aug. 19 and 26.
