It's going to be a bit cheaper to attend the province's biggest agricultural festival this year.
A 10-day pass to Old Home Week will cost $20, down from $25 in years past.
Organizers recently complained that the historic event can't compete with the bevy of free concerts being offered on the city's waterfront.
But Rayanne Frizzell, general manager of the event, says that's not why they knocked $5 off each pass.
"Actually, no,'' Frizzell told the media following a press conference in Charlottetown on Tuesday to unveil details about Old Home Week and the Gold Cup Parade. "The pass price we've been working on and had decided back in January/February. It was an early decision but it will probably play out in our favour, hopefully.''
Some people take issue with the fact that there is an admission to the grounds on top of paying to go on any midway rides, food and betting at the CDP.
Frizzell says Old Home Week is a non-profit organization which operates on a $700,000 budget. Gate admission accounts for 80 per cent of the overall revenue.
"All of your gate admission goes towards the cost of the event. We are certainly operating in a break-even position (and) if any profit is realized it is just rolled right back into the event.''
The provincial government is helping out, providing a $25,000 grant to help market the event and the Gold Cup Parade off Island.
Inside the gate this year will be a daily entertainment lineup that includes Magic Bean Agriculture Show, Dave Sharp Speed Painter, pedal tractor pulls, giant flea circus, Scotty & the Stars Children's Music, Sounds of the Island concert series with Eddy Quinn of Fiddlers' Sons and an expanded Red Dirt cattle penning now happening on three evenings.
The provincial exhibition will feature more than 250 dairy cattle, 150 beef cattle, 400 poultry, 60 sheep, 100 draft horses and more than 250 light horses on site.
Campbell Amusements will return to provide midway excitement and discount bracelets will be going on sale in the near future.
There will be a 2014 project called Exploring Agriculture and Life on P.E.I. in 1864 set up in a 5,000-square-foot area inside the trade centre.
"We're working with a team of folks, collecting some artifacts, some videos, photos just to give people an idea of what agriculture was like in 1864, but also what life was like in 1864,'' Frizzell said.
People will see what a blacksmith shop looked like and what a simple farm yard would have had in it.
The week will also include a youth talent competition, Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture, horse pull, a custom sand sculpture, the Fast 'n Furious dog shows, food demonstrations, Women's Institute and 4-H displays, face painting and merchandise.
The Gold Cup Parade goes on Friday, Aug.15. Dora the Explorer will be the big guest this year while the Fathers of Confederation, playing on the 1864 theme, will be the honorary parade marshals.
And, of course, the week wraps up with the running of the Gold Cup & Saucer Race. More information will be coming soon in a separate announcement.
It's going to be a bit cheaper to attend the province's biggest agricultural festival this year.
A 10-day pass to Old Home Week will cost $20, down from $25 in years past.
Organizers recently complained that the historic event can't compete with the bevy of free concerts being offered on the city's waterfront.
But Rayanne Frizzell, general manager of the event, says that's not why they knocked $5 off each pass.
"Actually, no,'' Frizzell told the media following a press conference in Charlottetown on Tuesday to unveil details about Old Home Week and the Gold Cup Parade. "The pass price we've been working on and had decided back in January/February. It was an early decision but it will probably play out in our favour, hopefully.''
Some people take issue with the fact that there is an admission to the grounds on top of paying to go on any midway rides, food and betting at the CDP.
Frizzell says Old Home Week is a non-profit organization which operates on a $700,000 budget. Gate admission accounts for 80 per cent of the overall revenue.
"All of your gate admission goes towards the cost of the event. We are certainly operating in a break-even position (and) if any profit is realized it is just rolled right back into the event.''
The provincial government is helping out, providing a $25,000 grant to help market the event and the Gold Cup Parade off Island.
Inside the gate this year will be a daily entertainment lineup that includes Magic Bean Agriculture Show, Dave Sharp Speed Painter, pedal tractor pulls, giant flea circus, Scotty & the Stars Children's Music, Sounds of the Island concert series with Eddy Quinn of Fiddlers' Sons and an expanded Red Dirt cattle penning now happening on three evenings.
The provincial exhibition will feature more than 250 dairy cattle, 150 beef cattle, 400 poultry, 60 sheep, 100 draft horses and more than 250 light horses on site.
Campbell Amusements will return to provide midway excitement and discount bracelets will be going on sale in the near future.
There will be a 2014 project called Exploring Agriculture and Life on P.E.I. in 1864 set up in a 5,000-square-foot area inside the trade centre.
"We're working with a team of folks, collecting some artifacts, some videos, photos just to give people an idea of what agriculture was like in 1864, but also what life was like in 1864,'' Frizzell said.
People will see what a blacksmith shop looked like and what a simple farm yard would have had in it.
The week will also include a youth talent competition, Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture, horse pull, a custom sand sculpture, the Fast 'n Furious dog shows, food demonstrations, Women's Institute and 4-H displays, face painting and merchandise.
The Gold Cup Parade goes on Friday, Aug.15. Dora the Explorer will be the big guest this year while the Fathers of Confederation, playing on the 1864 theme, will be the honorary parade marshals.
And, of course, the week wraps up with the running of the Gold Cup & Saucer Race. More information will be coming soon in a separate announcement.
