After two summers of no rides, no games and no mini donuts, the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba is pleased to announce that Midway Madness has returned to the Keystone Centre grounds for the Labour Day long weekend.
The return of the midway marks the first time in over two years that the city has hosted a summer fair and for Brandon’s Isabelle Merry, she couldn’t be happier.
“It’s been over a year since we’ve had something like this, so we’ve been looking forward to this.”
Like everyone at the midway this weekend, Isabelle is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Everyone attending the fair, which began Thursday afternoon, must show proof that they’re vaccinated to get in. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
“Feel completely safe here,” she says as she made her way to her favorite midway attraction – Mach 3.
Like Merry, Kyle Leensbak of Brandon says although he was a little apprehensive about attending, he was still excited to be there with his daughter Mia.
“Looks like a good sized crowd….big traffic,” he says. “I did bring a mask and I feel so much better that everyone attending has been immunized.”
For Leensak, this marks his first visit to the fair in over two years and he says while the two of them are looking forward to the rides, the games and the food are also high on their list.
“Love the fair food….the hot dogs, the ice cream, the mini donuts.”
In total, this year’s Midway Madness features sixteen full-sized rides for teens and adults and 16 other rides in their Kiddieland section for the much younger audience and if the weather or the crowds on opening night are any indication it could be a busy weekend.
“These past two year have been challenging for us,” says Ex President Greg Crisanti, who says this event has been in the works for a long time and was made possible thanks to the loosening of public health restrictions in recent weeks.
“We haven’t had a summer fair since 2019. Our organization has been built on having fairs, so not having the opportunity to do that has been difficult.”
“It’s been great to be a part of bringing this event back to Brandon,” says Crisanti. “Having a chance to see so many smiling faces has been gratifying for all of us involved.”
This year’s Midway is a special presentation of 94.7 STAR FM, C & C Rentals and Prairie Building Maintenance.
Midway Madness continues through the long weekend, with gates scheduled to open at 4pm Friday, 12 noon Saturday, Sunday and holiday Monday.
Tickets can be purchased on the grounds.