New tastes and old memories fill the Queen City Ex

Hundreds poured through the gates on Wednesday as the Queen City Ex returned with new rides, new flavours and a few reminders of how much the Regina tradition has changed over the years.

The five-day exhibition runs until Sunday at the REAL District. This year’s lineup includes the returning SuperDogs, an inflatable corn maze, midway rides, the new Berry-Go-Round in Kiddieland and the Flying Fools High Dive Show.

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But before reaching the midway, visitors can begin their trip around the grounds inside the Brandt Centre, where dogs race across the floor, leap over hurdles and weave through obstacles during the SuperDogs show.

A short walk away, Memory Lane offers a much slower journey through the exhibition’s past. Historical photographs, artwork, ribbons and other memorabilia document the event’s evolution through the years, including the decades when it was known as Buffalo Days.

At the centre of the exhibit is Memory Lane chairman Rollie Bourassa, who has been involved with the exhibition for 63 years.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Bourassa said.

Bourassa, 90, said his connection to the grounds began when he helped open a television station there. At the time, broadcasts were live and staff members often had to take on several different jobs.

“You went to work in the morning and you didn’t know what you were going to do,” he said. “It was a different world, and the exhibition has always been a fun time for me.”

Those years also gave Bourassa plenty of unusual fair stories. One of his favourites involves a midway attraction advertised as a “live man-eating chicken.” Anyone who paid to enter found exactly what was promised, just not in the way they expected.

“There’s a guy sitting at a table eating chicken, and people paid money to go to it,” Bourassa recalled.

Photos, ribbons and other memorabilia document decades of Queen City Ex history inside the Memory Lane exhibit. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

While much has changed during his six decades at the fair, Bourassa said the reason he continues returning has remained simple.

“The people,” he said. “Seeing the families and having fun and being a part of it. I’ll keep going until I can’t.”

Memory Lane volunteer Don Young said helping Bourassa preserve the stories is an honour.

“He is Memory Lane,” Young said.

Back outside, the pace picks up with an inflatable corn maze and the midway’s mix of games and rides.

This year’s new addition is the Berry-Go-Round, a spinning attraction designed for younger children and their families.

“It’s perfect for the kids,” said Cat Betker, the REAL District’s director of signature events.

“Just a fun adventure, and a nice addition to the midway.”

Visitors looking for a different kind of thrill can watch the Flying Fools High Dive Show, where performers climb a tower high above the grounds before plunging into the pool below.

After the shows, displays and rides, there is still one major part of the Queen City Ex left to explore: the food.

New fair foods, including dill pickle pizza, are displayed during the opening day of the Queen City Ex in Regina. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

“The big highlight is all those new foods,” Betker said. “Everybody comes to the fair to eat.”

This year’s unusual offerings include deep-fried butter tarts, brisket in a bag, cookies-and-cream corn dogs, brownie mini doughnuts and dill pickle pizza.

Betker said she still leans toward the traditional midway staples.

“I’m a classic corn dog person,” she said. “Got to have that colossal onion. I mean, that giant turkey leg if you’re really, really hankering for something.”

REAL District executive chef Chaminda Ambagaspitiya helped create two of this year’s additions: dill pickle pizza topped with jalapenos and the Mighty Moo perogy bowl. The bowl combines perogies with shredded beef, gravy, cheese, sour cream and green onions.

“It’s one of a kind,” Ambagaspitiya said. “It’s heavy, good for sharing.”

Ambagaspitiya said the team develops its fair food by collecting ideas from different events, cities and countries, watching current trends and then creating its own recipes.

“We take from my team and the other teams what they like to have,” he said. “Then we look at the trend also. That’s how it comes out.”

Of the new creations, Ambagaspitiya said one has already become his clear favourite.

“Of course it’s dill pickle pizza,” he said. “You need to try that. That’s one of a kind.”

With hot weather hanging over the opening days, Betker said shade tents, water stations and indoor programming are available for people who need a break from the heat.

“If you need to head inside, take a break in the air conditioning and cool down,” she said. “We’re going to do our best to keep everybody safe.”

The Queen City Ex runs until Sunday at the REAL District, and the gates open at noon each day.