Niagara-on-the-Lake’s vibrant summer season is just around the corner, and the community of Virgil is readying to welcome it in with the 59th annual Virgil Stampede this upcoming May long weekend.
Thousands are expected to come out to the Virgil Sports Park from Sunday, May 16 to Monday, May 18 for a weekend of carnival rides, games, family-friendly events, classic fair food and, on Monday evening, a fireworks show to celebrate Victoria Day.
The grounds at 1565 Four Mile Creek Rd. will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Everything’s in place,” said Marcia Penner, the lead organizer of this year’s Stampede. “We’ve had a pretty rainy spring so far, so we’re hoping that stays away. But everything is inplace and we’re anticipating a great turnout and a great show.”
Entry tickets are $5 per person and admission is free for those 10 and under. Early-bird ride bracelets, valid for a single day, are $35 plus tax until Friday, May 15. Then, they’ll only be available on the grounds of the Stampede on Saturday, where they’ll be $45 plus tax. They can be bought at Phil’s Independent at 1551 Niagara Stone Rd., or online.
Alongside carnival rides and games, food and the Victoria Day fireworks, the Stampede will also host free pony rides, a skatepark and the kids’ pavillion with a reptile show, face painting, comedy acts and more.
Organizers have heightened the security and police presence at the Stampede over the years — security will be checking bags as guests enter the fairgrounds. Backpacks are not allowed into the park. There’s also no smoking, vaping or alcohol permitted on Stampede grounds.
“We don’t take any chances and it’s our mission to make sure that all of our patrons are safe and that’s what we intend to do,” Penner said.
Introduced last year and returning this year is a free parking shuttle service, running only on Monday, to help those driving to the Stampede.
The shuttle will take people from Niagara United Mennonite Church at 1775 Niagara Stone Rd. to Gate 2 Lorraine Street and back.
From Lorraine Street, people can walk to get into the grounds. The road at Lorraine Street and Arena Road is closed to vehicles.
The shuttle will run from noon to 11 p.m., with a second shuttle vehicle to be added at 9 p.m. Pickup will be every 20 minutes.
There is no parking available on the Stampede grounds, except for accessible parking. Two parking lots will be open the whole weekend for Stampede attendees in the area: The NOTL Town Hall at 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd. and Cornerstone Community Church at 1570 Niagara Stone Rd.
A third lot, at Meridian Credit Union (1567 Niagara Stone Rd.), will be open Sunday and Monday.
The Virgil Business Association, which organizes and runs the annual event, will be donating proceeds this year to Radiant Care’s Pleasant Manor Retirement Village, the Red Roof Retreat and, new this year, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, in support of its ongoing building expansion.
“This is what we do. We support community and we’re excited to help them along,” said Penner.
The business association hosts and funds the Stampede every year and has financially supported several sports and recreation facilities in the village over the years.
To buy early-bird ride tickets from now until May 16, visit virgilstampede.ca.
