The Virgil Stampede celebrated its 59th year this past weekend, and a lead organizer says focusing on families and adding more children’s rides has been a huge success and eliminated most security problems the carnival had in the past.
The Virgil Business Association’s annual festival at the Virgil Sports Park went off without a hitch from May 16 to 18, except for when rides were shut down for an hour on Saturday after rain, lightning and high winds moved in.
Albion Amusements has spent the past several years rejigging the event to cater more to families with young children, and the company’s owner-operator, Carrie Robertson, said the weekend’s lack of major incidents showed the approach is working.
“Unofficially, we’re gearing more towards families than to teenagers,” she said. “I know a lot of teenagers complain that there’s less and less big rides, but there’s a reason. There’s a method to our madness,” she said.
There have been some safety incidents in the past few years at the Stampede, including physical fights between teenagers on the fairgrounds in 2023 and the seizure of a replica handgun with BB ammunition from a teen trying to enter the carnival in 2024.
Bag checks and a no-backpack policy are now standard at the gate. And this year, Albion added more children’s rides, games and seating to draw younger families.
“There’s a lot of things that people think it’s a little over the top, but it makes families and children feel more secure,” Robertson said.
Much of the same entertainment from previous years was still there: Shane Farberman, better known for his role in the Adam Sandler film “Billy Madison” as Doo Doo the Clown, returned for all three days to clown around with the festival’s young attendees. Robertson said he is among the hardest attractions to book, often secured months in advance.
Jenna Kovacs from St. Davids, who attended the Stampede as a child and now brings her seven-year-old son Mason, said the event has added more attractions for younger children than she remembers from her own childhood.
“There’s more little-kid stuff, more space to sit, and definitely more security around than there was 30 years ago,” she said. “As a parent, you notice that stuff right away, and it just feels a bit safer bringing kids here now.”
Melissa Pugliese drove out to the Stampede from Niagara Falls with her children Grace, 6, and Luca, 8, for the family’s annual Victoria Day visit.
“We’ve been here since morning and somehow they still have energy for another ride. I honestly don’t know how kids do it,” Pugliese said.
Inside the Meridian Credit Union Arena, Red Roof Retreat volunteers ran the annual nickel sale raffle with prizes donated by more than 80 local businesses, including Shaw Festival tickets, winery tastings, a Whirlpool Jet Boat pass and a toy truck from Penner Lumber.
Joanne Thiessen, who was volunteering at the table, said the children’s prizes drew particular attention from young visitors.
“One little boy wanted to take the truck home, but unfortunately, he has to win it first,” she said.
Proceeds from the nickel sale support Red Roof Retreat’s expansion from a 1,100-square-foot bungalow on Concession 6 to a fully accessible 5,700-square-foot building. Winners were posted to the organization’s website Tuesday morning.
The Lions Club raffle offered a $10,000 cash prize as its top draw, replacing the cars the club used to give away at the Stampede. Volunteer Shirley Burroughs said Sunday sales were slower than expected.
“A $10,000 cash prize, I think that would be very enticing for people,” she said.
Albion Amusements has ties to the Stampede stretching back roughly 50 years, when Robertson’s grandfather brought his rides to the event. Robertson said the Virgil Stampede marks the first event of her company’s season every year — a streak she said she has no intention of breaking.
The Stampede closed Monday with a fireworks show at Virgil Sports Park. The Virgil Business Association donates net proceeds to Red Roof Retreat, Pleasant Manor Retirement Village and, new this year, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.
