Record turnout
By Stacy O'Brien - Red Deer Advocate
Published: July 22, 2008 6:28 AM
This year’s Westerner Days Fair reached the highest overall attendance on record.
Over the five-day event, 90,757 people stopped to see the midway, concerts and exhibits.
The numbers beat last year’s record high of 89,265 by 1,492 people.
“We’re absolutely elated,” said John Harms, CEO of Westerner Park. “We knew we had a great lineup of entertainment and if the weather co-operates, of course, it’s going to help immensely and it did.”
This year’s fair featured musical acts like Sawyer Brown and Clint Black and things for the kids like Franklin the Turtle and the Puppet Tamer.
Friday’s numbers were at an all-time low for a Friday. However, both Saturday and Sunday’s family day brought the numbers up, with 24,729 and 16,210 attending respectively.
Harms said he knew after Saturday that they had a strong day and a strong fair going. He said he believes the Sunday attendance was so good because of the family day and they plan to have extra promotions for the Westerner Days Family Day next year to expand it even further.
Cleanup was going on at Westerner Park on Monday and planning for next year’s Westerner Days starts today.
Meanwhile, there were a few big winners during Westerner Days.
Among those who went home with a prize during the Red Deer Kinsmen/Kinette Playin’ on Kin were Pat MacDonell of Delburne, who won the first place $10,000 ATV; Jim Kusakk of Caroline, who received the second place $4,000 travel voucher; and C. Shields, who won the third place $2,500 home theatre.
The Red Deer Lions Club Pot of Gold $250 winners were Red Deer residents L.M. Hitman on Wednesday, Connie Gallagher on Thursday, Norm Jenson on Friday and Lacombe resident Linda Campbell on Saturday. Tracy Peters of Red Deer won $10,000 on Sunday.
Contact Stacy O’Brien at sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com
