Plenty of new features offered at this year’s Saskatoon Ex

The wait is almost over.

The Saskatoon Ex is back and bigger than ever this year, with the event kicking off on Thursday and running until Aug. 6 on the grounds of Prairieland Park.

Read more:

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• Prairieland Park marks 140 years of history and entertainment in Saskatoon

Candace Shierling, director of signature events at Prairieland Park, said the fair will be a busy place this year, with a wide variety of things to see and do.

“It is really going to be the fourth-largest city in all of Saskatchewan while it’s running, with 250,000 people through the doors over eight days,” she said.

As for what to expect at this year’s event, Shierling said there’s quite a lot.

“We’re introducing a game called Midway Melodies, which is 12-person karaoke. It’s going to be located right beside our 22,000-square-foot tent called the Canopy, where we’re going to have draft beer available,” she said.

“We have shade sails for people to sit under, so you will be well-protected from the sun if you need to escape the heat,” Shierling added.

Some new areas of the exhibition will make their debut this year, Shierling explained.

“There is a brand new ag area where we’re introducing Elfie the alpaca to walk you through some agriculture adventures,” said Shierling.

“We’ve also got Bourbon Street North that we’re introducing right where the breezeway used to be. It’s going to be filled with a New Orleans vibe. You’re going to have some jazz music as you come through.”

As for the food at this year’s Saskatoon Ex, there will be plenty of new items for fair-goers to sample.

Bourbon bacon is this year’s new signature fair food at the 2026 Saskatoon Exhibition. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

“We have a lot of new food vendors this year, and of course some of our returning food vendors are always offering something new,” Shierling said.

“We work closely with our food and beverage team here as well, and we are introducing a brand new fair food called bourbon bacon, which you’ll be able to get right outside the Kicking Horse.”

On top of the bourbon bacon, attendees will also be able to taste items like garlic parm twisted pickles, an Area 51 taco burger, Montreal deli pickle poutine, cookies-and-cream Korean corn dogs, twista-roni and more.

On top of the rides, games and food, Shierling said there will also be plenty of music for visitors to enjoy.

“I’m super excited about the grandstand this year. One of our sellouts for our new Found Zone Plus has been Josh Ross. We have, of course, the Crash ‘N Bash Demo Derby that happens on Sunday. We’ve got Streetheart, Shawn Desman, Theory of a Deadman, Jade Eagleson, Mother Mother and MICO. I mean, the list goes on. It’s going to be an incredible lineup this year,” she said.

“At the Kicking Horse, we’ve got a Wannabe Spice Girls cover band. We’ve got PRISM coming, TOQUE and the Gecko Band, which is a beloved cover band joining us from Mexico.”

The exhibition will be open from noon to midnight each day, with a free shuttle bus service operating from 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m, with both pickup and drop off at admission Entrance #6.

“There is so much going on. There is so much new to see. It’s actually really incredible this year,” said Shierling.

Exhibition kicks off with downtown parade on Wednesday

The annual Ex Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, but the event will affect downtown traffic for much of the day.

The City of Saskatoon said road closures and detours will be in place beginning at 5 a.m., and will remain in effect until 2 p.m.

The route for the 2026 Saskatoon Exhibition Parade. (Saskatoon Ex)

The closures will affect Spadina Crescent from 33rd Street East to 20th Street East.

Also affected will be Fourth Avenue North from 20th Street East to 24th Street East, 20th Street East from Fourth Avenue North to Spadina Crescent, and 24th Street East from Fourth Avenue North to Spadina Crescent.

Transit routes will also be affected by the parade, the city said, and buses that normally use the Traffic Bridge will be rerouted.

The parade is free to attend along the route. This year’s grand marshal is Randy Pshebylo, who is being honoured for his 40 years of volunteering.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Simon Hiatt