2024 Saskatoon Ex: What to know before you go

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The Saskatoon EX starts Tuesday and runs until Sunday Aug. 11. Here’s what you need to know before you go:

1. The basics

This Tuesday through Sunday, Prairieland Park will be full of music, rides, attractions and entertainers from noon till midnight every day.

Like last year, visitors to the EX will have to walk through a metal detector at the entrance and have their bag searched for prohibited items like alcohol, drugs and weapons, which “may cause some delays” in entering the park. So if you need to be in the EX at a specific time to see your favourite show or attraction, organizers suggest arriving early.

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To get to the EX, Superpass ticket holders can take the bus for free on all regular Saskatoon Transit routes to and from Prairieland Park. Children 10 and under can ride the bus for free all day Wednesday, and seniors 60 and over will ride for free on Thursday.

If you’re driving to the EX, parking costs $10 — unless you’ve got five or more people in your vehicle, in which case you can park for free.

And if you’re biking or skateboarding to the EX, plan to lock your ride in the parking lot. There are bike racks at the Ruth & Lorne Street entrances, and you cannot bring bikes, skateboards or segways into the fairgrounds themselves.

Tickets to the EX are available at the gates. Your general admission ticket covers entrance to the EX and all the shows you want to see in a day, while a superpass ticket also includes all the rides. Make sure to check your schedule before you book, because the tickets are “no refunds, no exchanges, no rainchecks.”

2. The activities

This year, the EX officially kicks off on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. sharp with the Saskatoon EX Parade. The parade will begin at 24th Street and Spadina Crescent East, and will then go west on 24th Street to 4th Avenue, turn south on 4th Avenue to 20th Street, head east on 20th Street to Spadina Crescent East, then return to 24th Street and disperse.

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All week long, the iconic Midway rides and games will be lighting up the Saskatoon sky, and vendors will be selling everything from lemonade and fried donuts to stuffed animals, art and souvenirs.

Inside the main trade hall (Hall E) at Prairieland, this year’s attractions include the SuperDogs performing a Hollywood-themed ‘Pawscars’ show, meet & greets with characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse and Paw Patrol, a mascot parade and an interactive exhibit about animal care and agriculture.

3. The music

The SaskTel Grandstand is offering a packed schedule of open-air concerts this week, including some of the biggest names in Canadian country. This year’s shows include:

• August 6: The Beaches
• August 7: Amanda Marshall
• August 8: Sam Roberts Band
• August 9: The Reklaws
• August 10: Tom Cochrane

At the Kickin’ Horse Saloon, nightly featured concerts include:

• August 7: Trans-Canada Highwaymen
• August 8: Sloan
• August 9: Madeline Merlo
• August 10: Kim Mitchell

Around the EX, visitors can also catch daily performances of Métis fiddle music by father-son duo Dallas and Phil Boyer, and keep an ear out for strolling street bands like The Crawdaddios and Dan the One Man Band.

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4. The rest

With so much happening at Prairieland Park this week, it can be hard to keep track of everything you want to see, hear, do, taste and experience.

But the Saskatoon EX has offered some pro tips for visitors to make the most of their visit.

This year, the EX’s theme days include:

• August 6: $12 Tuesday
  • Admission to the EX costs $12 for visitors of all ages — except for children under 6 who, as always, get in for free.
• August 7: Kids’ day
  • The Midway ticket office will be selling 30 ride coupons for $22, while kids 10 and under can ride the bus to the EX for free.
• August 9: Foodie Friday
  • The EX’s iconic fair food will be on full display, while a portion of the day’s gate admission will be donated to the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre.
• August 11: Family day
  • Children 10 and under can pay $25 for unlimited fairground rides, while seniors 65 and older get free admission.

The EX also offered some health and safety tips for visitors to make the most of their time at the fair.

If you need to bring medication with you, make sure it’s in its original containers. Remember that the First Aid Station is located behind the SaskTel Grandstand, and Medavie Health Services are located at the north end of the park. In case your child gets lost, you can pick up a free wristband at any park entrance and the lost kids’ kiosks, so the team can help them find you. To be extra-safe, the EX suggests taking a photo of your kids as soon as you get to the EX, so you have a same-day picture of what they’re wearing right on your phone.

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