Honk those horns because the Fergus Truck Show returns to the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex from July 22 to 24.
The popular event is expected to draw in 13,000 to 15,000 people and around 300 trucks this year, explained event president Kevin Klein.
Attendees can expect some old favourites, such as the lawn and garden tractor pulls and Saturday night entertainment.
The entry fee remains low this year, after lowering costs last year for the 30th anniversary. A regular weekend pass is $30.
Notably missing this year is the Trucker Olympics.
“Challenger, who in the past has always been a big supporter, the guys who ran it for us … they’re not in the country very much anymore so they haven’t been able to put anything together and we just didn’t have any body else to do it for us,” said Klein.
Along with the pulls, attendees have the opportunity to stroll through the 20-plus vendors. Klein explained there will be a lot of vendors geared toward the trucking community. There will also be eight food vendor options.
There are some changes to the entertainment line up this year.
Show organizers made the decision to hold the entertainment on Saturday evening only, due to revenue challenges.
Two bands will take to the stage Saturday including Transit and the Danny Thompson Band.
Transit started in 1986 as a classic rock band playing throughout the Guelph and Kitchener/Waterloo area.
The Danny Thompson Band consists of six artists: Danny Thompson, Jordan Thompson, Devin Turnbull, Danilee Thompson, Katie Korfmann and Darin Driscoll.
The Brantford-based band is gearing up their country music for Saturday night.
The Fergus Truck Show was first held in 1986 to help fundraise for an addition on the Fergus and District Community Centre Complex Hall, now the Sportsplex, and to introduce area residents to the trucking industry.
The show has grown to be North America’s largest truck show, in both paid attendance and the number of the big truck ‘Show and Shine’ contestants, explains the show’s website.
July 22
The weekend officially starts Friday afternoon with the gates opening to the public at 12pm until 1am. The trade show also starts at noon and stays open until 9pm. The first pull of the weekend takes off at 6:30pm with the local trucks 6,000 to 10,000lbs pulls.
July 23
The gates, as well as the trade show, open at 9am on Saturday. The lawn and garden tractor pulls start at 11am and the Great Lakes Sanctioned Pull begins at 3pm. The sanctioned pull includes hot stock 4×4, pro street diesel, modified farm tractor, light and heavy pro stock, single engine modified and vintage tractor classes.
The entertainment begins at 10am with the Danny Thompson Band, Transit takes the stage at 11pm.
July 24
Sunday morning starts with a 9am church service by Transport for Christ in the Show and Shine area. The Show and Shine awards start around 11am. Replacing the Sunday demolition derby are the new pull events with the Harley Davidson motorcycle, ATVs and side-by-side classes.
Tickets
A weekend pass to the Fergus Truck Show is $30 for all ages while children 12 and under are free. Day passes for Friday are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and youths aged 13 to 18. Saturday passes are $23 or $20 for seniors and youths. Sunday passes are $12 for all ages. After 8pm, entrance to the entertainment show will cost $10. All prices include HST.
Parking
Limited parking will be available at the Sportsplex and additional parking will be at the Centre Wellington District High School with a shuttle available to and from the lot. Parking costs $5 for Friday and Sunday, $10 for Saturday or $15 for the whole weekend.
Visit www.fergustruckshow.com or call 705-794-9184 for more information.
