Volunteers and organizers are gearing up for the 30th anniversary of the Fergus Truck Show from July 24 to 26 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.
Attendees should expect a lot of old favourites and some new exhibits throughout the weekend.
Prices have dropped this year, explained organizer Patricia Drinkwater.
“This year is our 30th anniversary and we have lowered the gate costs for people to come in and lowered the cost for the truckers to come in,” she said.
The cost for a regular weekend pass has dropped to $30 from last year’s cost of $50.
The Trucker Olympics run by Challenger are continuing for the third year. Events include tire running, log cutting, winter tire chaining, and other challenges. Any driver can participate at a cost of $10 with this year’s proceeds to go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Drinkwater also noted that the Canadian Forces will be in attendance with their equipment.
Organizers have decided to move the evening entertainment inside this year, after they were rained out in the past couple of years.
“We’ve taken our entertainment inside. The evening entertainment is going inside at night for a number of reasons, this way regardless of weather our entertainment will continue to go on,” said Drinkwater.
Along with the new events, people can still enjoy more than 33 vendors during the tradeshow. Drinkwater explained there will be more vendors for truck drivers to explore while still having vendors for the masses.
The show is expected to host over 6,000 people throughout the weekend and over 300 trucks to fill the fields.
“The truck pulls … that’s a big draw for people and of course the trucks because the truckers open their doors and allow people see inside,” said Drinkwater.
The Fergus Truck Show was first held in 1986 to help fundraise for an addition for 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.
July 24
The weekend officially starts on Friday at noon, when the gates open to the public. While the first local truck pull starts at 6:30pm, attendees can explore the grounds and view all of the ‘Show and Shine’ contestants.
The first show of the night starts at 8:30pm with Kristen Wood taking the stage. Anne Finley and the Twangsters take the stage at 11pm.
July 25
The gates open at 9am and attendees can jump right into the tradeshow which continues all day. The lawn and garden tractor truck pull starts at 11am. Make sure to cheer on participants of the Trucker Olympics at 11am. The Great Lakes-sanctioned truck pull starts at 3pm.
Entertainment starts with Backroads at 7:30pm. Settlers Creek start jamming at 9pm. Transit takes the stage at 10:30pm and at 12am Moonshine rounds out the night.
July 26
Sunday morning church service by Transport for Christ starts at 9am. Awards for the Show and Shine are presented at 11am. The weekend ends with a bang, a roar of motors, and crashes at the Impact Motor Sports demolition derby at 2pm.
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.
For those with trailers, camping is available at the Sportsplex (unserviced sites cost $125 and serviced sites are $150 for the full weekend).
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.
For more information visit www.fergustruckshow.com or call 519-843-3412.
