SASKATOONEXPRESS - July 30-August 5, 2018 - Page 1
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Volume 17, Issue 30, Week of July 30, 2018
The Silver Starlets aerial show is a new catch for the Exhibition this year. (Photo Supplied)
Saskatoon Exhibition
NOVA dome among the new highlights for fair-goers
S
askatoon’s Prairieland “I saw NOVA at an industry Exhibition has stacked its event in Toronto, liked what I entertainment deck with saw, and I also talked the Redepth, variety and some unique gina Exhibition and the Pacific individuals with specialized National Exhibition in Vancoutalents. ver into hiring him. That will One of them is Jean-Sebasbroaden his base of acceptance tian Lepage, who is introducin Western Canada,” she said. ing NOVA, The Emergence of The NOVA dome will be Light, which will be played out located in the north concession under a large dome. Lepage row with nightly performances tries to stir the imaginations of at 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. his audience with a show that The main grandstand is usuPeople combines multiple visuals ally the site of the major musiand technical standards, with cal events and the lineup this impressive human performances, all staged year includes Carly Rae Jepsen on Aug. 7, with modern sound tracks and special ef- Marianas Trench on Aug. 8, Trace Adkins fects. on Aug. 9, Tim Hicks on Aug. 10 and April Lepage is no stranger to the Saskatoon Wine on Aug. 11. All shows are free for Exhibition. He is artistic director of the those who buy gate admissions. Quebec City company MysterAct Produc“We have free entertainment venues lotions, which he founded in 1998. He has a cated all over the grounds and the schedulflair for the extraordinary presentations. In ing has been established so that people can recent years, he brought two indoor spec- virtually move from one stage to another tacles, Luz and Mana, to the Saskatoon without missing a beat,” said Kuzma. summer fair. A new catch this summer is the Silver “With NOVA, we feel we have Starlets aerial show, which will be located achieved our goal of integrating new tech- on the south concession row with shows at nologies with aesthetically pleasing and 3:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. awe-inspiring performances,” said Lepage. Molly Keczan has competed internaSusan Kuzma, director of events at tionally for Canada in rhythmic gymnasPrairieland, is a believer. tics and she’s been with Cirque du Soleil.
NED POWERS
Danielle Gnidec learned acrobatics and dance with the famous Rockettes. They will work off a 20-foot-high aerial rig. They have also been booked in the PNE Exhibition later in Vancouver. There will be a double dose of Las Vegas-style entertainment in Hall C. Tyzen is a comedic hypnotist and magician who is returning to the Saskatoon scene to work shows at 3:30, 7:15 and 9:45 p.m. The new face is Jason Andrews, hailed as the master illusionist and a former Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year award winner, who will be featured at 5 and 8:30 p.m. The Nerveless Nocks, descendants of a Swiss family circus unit, carry on a tradition which began in 1954 and one of their calling cards is featuring motorcycle riders racing around inside a 17-foot steel globe. They package some other old-fashioned circus artistry near the Log Cabin at 3, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Returning for an umpteenth time are The President’s Choice Superdogs, whose show this year is called Happy Barkday. There are shows daily in the Hall E Fun Zone at 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Also in a Hall E space will be Animals of Wizardry, a new show assembled by Little Ray’s company, and they are featured at 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 8 p.m. The Kickin’ Horse Saloon has lined
up Saskatoon acts like The Gong Show on Tuesday, The Pistolwhips, and Hot Rod Hullabaloo on Sunday but has added acts of national significance with Meghan Patrick on Thursday, Jay Semko and The Northern Pikes on Friday and Doug and the Slugs on Saturday. New is the Ruth Street Patio and Stage. The Oral Fuentes Reggae Band is appearing daily at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Sliced in between are acts of Indigenous descent like Phil and Dallas Boyer, Darcy Anaquod, Darwin Roy and friends, Donny Parenteau and the Qu’Appelle Valley Dancers. The North American Midway Entertainment company is providing an array of 27 rides for adults and 20 for children. Last year’s Ex attracted 206,480, which was a little below average. The art of wheeling and dealing at trade conventions in places like Las Vegas, Nashville and Toronto is relatively new to Kuzma, but she’s been hanging around Prairieland Park for 38 years and has a good handle on almost every event. “I first came to the grounds as a nineyear-old in the 4-H events when they were part of the summer fair. In my final two years in 4-H, I’d already been an employee of the Exhibition for two years. Great memories for young people who’d show (Continued on page 6)