Mini donuts and rides return at Winnipeg's Red River Ex after 2 year hiatus due to pandemic - Action News
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Manitoba

Mini donuts and rides return at Winnipeg's Red River Ex after 2 year hiatus due to pandemic

Winnipeg's Red River Exhibition returned after a two year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year everybody must be fully vaccinated to get in and enjoy the rides, food and games.

Red River Ex runs from Aug. 27-Sept. 6

IshaniBave(centre) brought her family along for her first time at the Red River Exhibition on Friday. (Travis Golby/CBC)

After two years of no rides, no games and no mini doughnuts, Winnipeg's Red River Exhibitionis back, and despite some rain, David McPherson couldn't be happier.

His favourite part: "The food, the sounds, the smells, everything."

McPherson drove two hours on Friday to get to the festival from Peguis, Man.

"We sure missed it this summer, so it's a good change."

Just like everybody else at the festival, McPherson is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Everyone must show proof they're vaccinated to get in, andchildren under 12 can go with a fully vaccinated person.

David McPherson drove two hours to get to the Red River Exhibition on Friday and didn't let a little rain get in the way of enjoying his time there. (Travis Golby/CBC)

That sits well with him.

"I thought it was right on. All our kids are vaccinated and so is everyone else here, so it's pretty safe to mingle a little bit, and at the same time keep your distance," McPherson said.

The annual fair was rescheduled to Aug. 27-Sept. 6 from its normal dates at theend of June, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A person picks out a prize at the Red River Exhibition on Friday. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Staff are relieved the Ex isback, says Garth Rogerson, the CEO of Red River Exhibition Association.

"[It's been]extremely challenging, not being able to open. Our organization is built on having fairs, and so not being able to do that was devastating to us," he said.

"I'm exhausted right now, but this is the excited kind of exhausted of doing the things that we love to do."

In previous years, Rogerson said the Ex hosted an Indiana-based travelling carnival, but because of border restrictions, staff scoured the province looking for local talent to feature.

Fair rides, including a ferris wheel, are pictured outside under a dark and cloudy sky.
The rides are back! The Red River Exhibition has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. (Travis Golby/CBC)

"We have four stages going so it'sconstant band after band all day long. So there's just a wide variety of entertainment," he said, adding that there's also a dog show as well as people dressed up as princesses and super heroes moving around the fair grounds.

"We're very excited to see that once again, because these bands haven't performed in almost two years. So it's going to be interesting and it's going to be fun. The level of talent in Manitoba is incredible."

On Sept. 3, the Ex is hosting an Indigenous day, featuring Indigenous musicians all day long.

Sharon Szabo hasn't been to the Red River Exhibition in 16 years. The Ex runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6, but visitors must show proof of vaccination to enter. Children under 12 who aren't eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine must be accompanied by an adult who is fully vaccinated. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Sharon Szabohasn'tbeen to the Ex for 16 years, but said she was happy to be there.

"It's still got the same sort of sense with the rides, the food and the fun," she said.

The school worker said it doesn't bother her at all to show her vaccine card and spend time in a place that's safe.

Meanwhile, IshaniBave brought her young son for his first ride at the Ex and is happy for the vaccine requirements.

"It's nice because of the people's safety. That's a good idea," she said.

With files from Travis Golby and Mina Collin