Three new “marquee attractions” are coming to the 134th Cloverdale Country Fair this year.
A new stage, a roller skating rink, and a new lounge will have entertaining acts and events—all included with a Fairgrounds admission ticket.
The South Gate Action Stage is an expanded skateboarding and action sports venue that will feature numerous acts and performances over Rodeo Weekend. Roll-A-Rama is a new roller skating and roller derby venue. And the Lasso Lounge is a new, tented lounge area near the Cloverdale Rec. Centre and the food court.
"We're excited about what's in store this year," said Kathy Sheppard. "It still feels like the Cloverdale everyone knows and loves—but with a fresh twist on our 'Original Kind of Country.'"
Sheppard, the president of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association, told the Cloverdale Reporter the “new marquee attractions” offer “great” entertainment for fair-goers. “You don’t want to miss the new high-energy events.”
She said visitors will see things in the three new attractions “like skateboarding and breakdancing battles, roller derby, and duelling pianos—or any of the many other new marquee experiences that will take place in the Lasso Lounge, Roll-A-Rama, or on the Action Stage.”
Sheppard said whether first-timers or long-time attendees, there is something for everyone at rodeo. She added that with so many attractions included with a general admission ticket, she recommends guests plan ahead.
“There’s so much happening,” she said. “Make sure to grab a schedule and map to plan your day.”
South Gate Action Stage
The new action venue “builds on the legacy” of the World Roundup Skateboarding Championship. As such, the South Gate Action Stage will be hub for extreme sports and live entertainment.
“Expect pro-level skateboarding, gravity-defying BMX tricks, intense breaking battles, and live DJ sets in one nonstop, adrenaline-fuelled space,” notes a Cloverdale Rodeo press release. “The Action Stage will be the hub of activity at the South Gate, with its marquee event, the Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown, happening multiple times each day.”
There will also be live performances near the stage, including the flying pig races, and a new street skateboard competition in the Alice McKay Building, hosted by Hippie Mike.
Roll-A-Rama
This year the Cloverdale Curling Rink will be transformed into Roll-A-Rama—a new roller skating experience organizers are calling “roller rodeo.” The public will be able to enjoy roller skating and Roller Derby exhibitions by day and by night Roll-A-Rama will become the “ultimate throwback,” a disco roller skating party.
"We're excited to partner with the Cloverdale Rodeo for the first time at this year's Roll-A-Rama," Lucy Croysdill, owner of Rolla Skate Club, said in a press release about the venue. “Our goal is to bring people together to rediscover the joy of roller skating, the spirit of community, and, of course, have some fun.”
Skates will be available by donation with all proceeds going to support the Cloverdale Community Kitchen and their outreach services. Of course, fair-goers can bring their own skates too.
Between the daily public skates Roll-A-Rama will host the first ever “Rodeo Roller Derby.” Competitions will take place on both Saturday (May 17) and Sunday (May 18) at 1:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day with teams from the Greater Vancouver Roller Derby Association (GVRDA) lacing up for war on wheels.
“The Greater Vancouver Roller Derby Association is thrilled to bring the fast-paced and hard-hitting fun that is the sport of flat track roller derby to the rodeo this year,” Melissa Trickett, GVRDA marketing director, also said in the release. “[It’s] a guaranteed entertaining and unique experience you will not want to miss.”
Lasso Lounge
The Lasso Lounge will be sandwiched into the south-west corner of the main food truck area. It offers a “unique gathering point” for fair-goers between the Longhorn and midway, noted the release.
“The huge tented area will host live performances and rodeo livestreams and will provide a new home for traditions such as Cowboy Church,” the release continued. “The laid-back vibe in the middle of the action will add another dimension to the heart of the event and is a great place to grab a beverage and take in a show.”
Cowboy Church will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning and Chaplain Mark Davis, from the B.C. Fire Chaplains, will lead the service at the close of the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation pancake breakfast.
The Lasso Lounge will also feature a duelling pianos act, will host live music, and will livestream all rodeo competitions out of the Stetson.
Known locally as “Rodeo Weekend,” the 77th Cloverdale Rodeo and 134th Country Fair will take place May 16-19 (May long weekend). A full event schedule can be found on cloverdalerodeo.com.
General admission to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds starts at $15 for adults with kids 12 and under getting in free. To find tickets, visit cloverdalerodeo.com.
Lineup Schedule
Friday, May 16, 2025
South Gate Action Stage
4:00 pm - DJ Goodspin
4:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
5:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
6:00 pm - Flying Pig Races
6:45 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
7:45 pm - Flying Pig Races
8:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
Alice Mckay
6-8 pm - Skateboard Stampede (Warm up)
Hall Constructors Lasso Lounge
6:00 pm - The Golden Archies
7:30 pm - Rodeo Livestream
9:30 pm - The Golden Archies
Roll-A-Rama
6-10 pm - Roller Disco Party ft. DJ M TRAXX
Saturday, May 17, 2025
South Gate Action Stage
11:00 am - DJ Goodspin
11:45 am - Flying Pig Races
12:30 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
1:30 pm - Street Dance Battle
2:00 pm - Flying Pig Races
2:45 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
3:45 pm - Street Dance Battle
4:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
5:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
6:15 pm - Street Dance Battle
7:00 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
8:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
Alice Mckay
1-4 pm - Skateboard Stampede (Contest)
Hall Constructors Lasso Lounge
4:30 pm - The Piano Men
2:00 pm - Rodeo Livestream
6:00 pm - The Piano Men
7:30 pm - Rodeo Livestream
Roll-A-Rama
11:00 am - Public Roller Skating
1:15 pm - Roller Derby
2:45 pm - Public Roller Skating
4:30 pm - Roller Derby
6-10 pm - Roller Disco Party ft. DJ M TRAXX
Sunday, May 18, 2025
South Gate Action Stage
11:00 am - DJ Goodspin
11:45 am - Flying Pig Races
12:30 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
1:30 pm - Street Dance Battle
2:00 pm - Flying Pig Races
2:45 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
3:45 pm - Street Dance Battle
4:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
5:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
6:15 pm - Street Dance Battle
7:00 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
8:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
Alice Mckay
1-4 pm - Skateboard Stampede (Demo & Contest)
Hall Constructors Lasso Lounge
10:00 am - Cowboy Church
2:00 pm - Rodeo Livestream
6:00 pm - The Piano Men
7:30 pm - The Piano Men
Roll-A-Rama
11:00 am - Public Roller Skating
1:15 pm - Roller Derby
2:45 pm - Public Roller Skating
4:30 pm - Roller Derby
6:00 pm - Roller Disco Party ft. DJ M TRAXX
Monday, May 19, 2025
South Gate Action Stage
11:00 am - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
12:00 pm - Burns The Dragon: Circus Sideshow
12:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
1:15 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
2:00 pm - Burns The Dragon: Circus Sideshow
2:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
3:00 pm - Freestyle Skateboard Throwdown
4:00 pm - Burns The Dragon: Circus Sideshow
4:30 pm - Flying Pig Races
Alice Mckay
1-4 pm - Skateboard Stampede (Trick Contest)
Hall Constructors Lasso Lounge
11:00 am - DJ JUNIOR
2:00 pm - Rodeo Livestream
4:00 pm - DJ JUNIOR
Roll-A-Rama
11:00 am to 5:00 pm - Public Roller Skating
