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While cowboy boots are a common sight at Country Thunder Craven, wrestling boots are also making an appearance this year.
The festival is bringing in Canadian Wrestling’s Elite (CWE) to put on shows in the beer gardens Friday through Sunday as one of the new 2019 attractions.
“We’ve been doing a lot of different summer festivals and fairs over the summer months because it tends to slow down in terms of indoor events because people want to enjoy those few months (of hot weather) outside that we get here in the prairies,” CWE founder Danny Warren said.
“To get this opportunity to combine country music and professional wrestling is an opportunity I’m excited about, being a country music fan.”
CWE was founded in 2009 and is based out of Winnipeg. The promotion has put on shows across Canada.
Warren said the opportunity to bring the squared-circle to Craven arose when one of the wrestlers, Wavell Starr, was approached with the opportunity and CWE closed the deal.
Warren said the company’s shows typically go over well at the fairs and festivals.
“People are out to have a good time, they want to be interactive, they want to have a fun night out,” Warren said. “There’s no substitute for live professional wrestling.
“Once you get there and it’s five feet in front of your face and you’re interacting with the wrestlers and you’re seeing how hard they actually hit each other and you see the bodies fly around, you have a different appreciation for it.
“I think when you combine the party atmosphere with something like Craven and you put professional wrestling in the mix, it just explodes.”
And as is the case with any outdoor event, weather can play a factor.
“If it’s really hot, you’re trying to keep that back off the mat because it can feel like that canvas is on fire,” Warren said. “(We) had an outdoor event and it downpoured and the wrestlers were wrestling in the rain before we had an opportunity to take it down and set it back up inside somewhere.
“Either way, those fans are going to get a night of professional wrestling, rain or shine.”
Country Thunder’s Gerry Krochak said after making improvements to the site over the past few years, the organizers wanted to focus on adding some fun activities this year.
“We always talk about doing a little something for everyone and not everyone is going to enjoy (wrestling) but the people who do are pretty stoked so it just adds to the assault on the senses during a weekend at Craven,” Krochak said.
“It’s certainly going to be a unique vibe in the afternoon and just a little something extra for our fans and we think it will be a lot of fun.”
Budweiser is helping present the wrestling shows, including a tournament throughout the weekend with a winner being crowned on Sunday. Warren, who performs under the ring name Danny Duggan, and Starr will be two of the wrestlers at the festival this weekend.
Country Thunder organizers are also bringing in a large slingshot ride for the first time. As well, a beach volleyball tournament is to take place at the event with cash prizes.
Gates for Country Thunder are already open and the festival runs until Sunday.