Edmonton's Capital EX
Encyclopedia
Edmonton's Capital EX, formerly known as Klondike Days or K-Days, is an annual 10-day exhibition
held in Edmonton
, Alberta
, usually near the end of July. In recent years it has attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors each year. It runs in conjunction with A Taste of Edmonton, and since 2006, the Edmonton Indy.
The exhibition is held at Northlands
, (formerly Northlands Park), south of Rexall Place
.
). The first parade to promote the fair was held in 1903. The fair did not organize a community parade in the 1930s and 1940s.
By 1904, the exhibition, ever gaining in popularity exceeded 20,000 attendees (5,200 on opening day) and relocated to its current site in Northlands
in 1910. In 1912, it was extended to six days. It continued to be held through the First World War, even though the facilities were at the disposal of the Canadian Army. A similar arrangement was made during the Second World War, though this time with the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
The exhibition brought about the name Klondike Days in 1962, with the theme revolving around the Klondike Gold Rush
. The public embraced the theme with relish, dressing up in period costume
s for the Klondike Days opening parade.
In 2004, Northlands Park
celebrated the 125th anniversary of the fair exhibition. The Klondike Days Parade was also themed to commemorate the City of Edmonton's 100th anniversary in the same year. Fair attendance continued to climb upward, having broken the 800,000 attendance mark in 2005, the time to do so. However in 2006, attendance fell to 688,369, coinciding with the year that the name of the exhibition was changed to "Capital EX". Initially this was met with both protest and excitement from citizens. Some felt a name change was unnecessary, while others felt it was time to drop "traditional themes" citing that there was no longer an interest in dressing up in Klondike-themed clothing during the week-long exhibition.
Initially, Northlands decided not to release the 2008 attendance numbers due to an agreement with the Indy Racing League. However, Northlands revised their decision and released the attendance figures showing a total of 743,374 attendees, a drop of almost 30,000 from the previous year. In 2009 the attendance dropped again, by more than 25,000, to a total of 717,966. But rebounded again by 4% in 2010 to 747,660.
“When we rebranded our summer exhibition two years ago and introduced Capital EX we knew it was so much more than a name. It was about the programming and the opportunity to showcase the best of the region and the province,” says Ken Knowles, President of Northlands. “This recognition from the tourism industry is particularly gratifying as it reinforces our ongoing efforts through Capital EX to continue to celebrate our province and to build Alberta pride.”
, (4 days prior to 2009), making it end on the Sunday of July's last weekend.
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
held in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, usually near the end of July. In recent years it has attracted between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors each year. It runs in conjunction with A Taste of Edmonton, and since 2006, the Edmonton Indy.
The exhibition is held at Northlands
Northlands
Northlands is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1879, before the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, or the province of Alberta....
, (formerly Northlands Park), south of Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
.
History
The Edmonton Agricultural Society organized the first local exhibition on the original Fort Edmonton site on October 15, 1879. This was the first event of its kind ever held in what was then known as the North-West Territories. Edmonton's first fair showcased locally produced livestock, grain, vegetables, and handiwork and attracted 500 people. In 1893, the organization held the city's first spring exhibition, and in 1899, the exhibition grounds were relocated to Rossdale Flats (now Telus FieldTELUS Field
Telus Field is a baseball stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is home to the Edmonton Capitals of the independent North American League, and was home to the former Edmonton Trappers, an AAA baseball team of the Pacific Coast League. The Trappers moved to Round Rock, Texas, and became the...
). The first parade to promote the fair was held in 1903. The fair did not organize a community parade in the 1930s and 1940s.
By 1904, the exhibition, ever gaining in popularity exceeded 20,000 attendees (5,200 on opening day) and relocated to its current site in Northlands
Northlands
Northlands is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1879, before the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, or the province of Alberta....
in 1910. In 1912, it was extended to six days. It continued to be held through the First World War, even though the facilities were at the disposal of the Canadian Army. A similar arrangement was made during the Second World War, though this time with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
The exhibition brought about the name Klondike Days in 1962, with the theme revolving around the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
. The public embraced the theme with relish, dressing up in period costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
s for the Klondike Days opening parade.
In 2004, Northlands Park
Northlands
Northlands is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1879, before the official incorporation of the city of Edmonton, or the province of Alberta....
celebrated the 125th anniversary of the fair exhibition. The Klondike Days Parade was also themed to commemorate the City of Edmonton's 100th anniversary in the same year. Fair attendance continued to climb upward, having broken the 800,000 attendance mark in 2005, the time to do so. However in 2006, attendance fell to 688,369, coinciding with the year that the name of the exhibition was changed to "Capital EX". Initially this was met with both protest and excitement from citizens. Some felt a name change was unnecessary, while others felt it was time to drop "traditional themes" citing that there was no longer an interest in dressing up in Klondike-themed clothing during the week-long exhibition.
Initially, Northlands decided not to release the 2008 attendance numbers due to an agreement with the Indy Racing League. However, Northlands revised their decision and released the attendance figures showing a total of 743,374 attendees, a drop of almost 30,000 from the previous year. In 2009 the attendance dropped again, by more than 25,000, to a total of 717,966. But rebounded again by 4% in 2010 to 747,660.
Name change
There was some initial controversy over the change in name from Klondike Days to Capital EX. Many locals still refer to the exhibition as Klondike Days or K-Days.“When we rebranded our summer exhibition two years ago and introduced Capital EX we knew it was so much more than a name. It was about the programming and the opportunity to showcase the best of the region and the province,” says Ken Knowles, President of Northlands. “This recognition from the tourism industry is particularly gratifying as it reinforces our ongoing efforts through Capital EX to continue to celebrate our province and to build Alberta pride.”
Dates
The Capital EX begins 5 days after the Calgary StampedeCalgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
, (4 days prior to 2009), making it end on the Sunday of July's last weekend.
- 2008: Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 26
- 2009: Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 26
- 2010: Friday, July 23 to Sunday, August 1
- 2011: Friday, July 22 to Sunday, July 31
- 2012: Friday, July 20 to Sunday, July 29
- 2013: Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 28
- 2014: Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 27