Meet a Sloth! Duel with a Dragon!!! Wrangle a Wallaby! Tangle with a Tortoise!

The Wildlife Festival returns to the TARA Events Centre at Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie with new animals and some old favourites September 6-8.

Featuring Three Exhibits:
• Living Dragons – Explore the mythical world of dragons and learn about their reptilian connections.
• Welcome to the Jungle – Meet sloths, snakes, and other animals that inhabit the world's jungles.
• Diversity of living things – Learn the similarities and differences of different types of animals and meet wallabies, porcupines, snakes and more.

Two unique half-hour, hands-on educational programs:
• Welcome to the Jungle – Learn about jungle reptiles
• Warm Blooded Creatures – Learn about sloths, ferrets, and other warm blooded creatures..

ALSO FEATURING

ADULTS ONLY NIGHT (18+): Join us Friday, September 6 frp, 7-9 p.m. for Adults Only Night. Featuring two adults-only shows mixing education, trivia, comedy, and special experiences. The ultimate date night or friends’ night out for the animal lover. Includes early admission for the general festival.

VIP EXPERIENCE: a small group guided experience with all of our animals including a private sloth encounter. No additional experience purchase required. A $185 value! $150/person in advance, $175 onsite. Limited Tickets Available per day. Sessions at the beginning and end of each day.

LIMITED SLOTH EXPERIENCES: We will be offering limited opportunities to meet our sloth up close and personal (petting, taking photos in his enclosure with him!). If you want this experience, please be sure to purchase the Sloth Experience Admission ticket. There may be Sloth Experience tickets available at the venue.

Friday September 6th – 1-6:30 p.m. (General Admission) 7-9 p.m. (Adults Only)

Saturday September 7th – 10-11 a.m. (Quiet Hour) 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (General Admission)

Sunday September 8th – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Evergreen Park 55051 Township Rd 710 TARA Energy Services Centre

ADMISSION: Purchase tickets in advance online at link.

Single Admission: $16 in advance, $20 at the door. Kids 3 and under Free.
Adults Only Night: $26 in advance. $30 at the door.

Tickets available online here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wildlifefestival/1291429?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3bGx0TnecZq5NwOalkSuy2E1LAkpjqY-0dykGWZ3Tm01vjYeBaxlUQs0g_aem_AO9hmZoq6MJemm4TPRjT0w

 ** SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES **

FINANCIAL: If you, or a nature lover you know, is unable to buy general admission tickets due to financial circumstances, please email us at info@wildlifefestival.ca to make special arrangements.

SENSITIVITY: If you have children who have difficulty with crowds or noise, they and their families are invited to a special quiet hour, free of charge, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

About The Wildlife Festival: The Wildlife Festival is a production of the non-profit Cobb’s Exotic Animal Rescue. Based in Calgary, this organization focuses on educational messages of exotic pet ownership, conservation, and respect for wildlife.

WEBSITE: www.wildlifefestival.ca
Social Media:
IG: CobbsExoticAnimalRescue
Facebook: Cobbs Exotic Animal Rescue

Baconfest is back!

On Sunday, August 4 you can satisfy your salty urges with all kinds of bacon creations.

It is amazing how many varieties of bacon treats can be created by the chefs at Evergreen Park.

You have tried the chocolate-covered bacon and the bacon crème brulee … now it’s time to taste what the chefs have in store for you in 2024.

The tasting starts at 12:30 p.m. and continues until 3:30 p.m.

The day is part of The Horses At Evergreen Park with first post at 1:15 p.m. There is no admission fee to enter, but each bacon item will cost you a small amount.

Proceeds from the day will go towards the County of Grande Prairie Firefighters Association to help them with their benevolent activities in the community.

The Horses At Evergreen Park July-August racing season goes until Sunday, August 25.

Races are held every Saturday and Sunday with a 1:15 p.m. first post.

Some of the highlight events include the Wiener Dog Derby July 21: Derby Day (GP Oaks and Derby) on July 28; Baconfest on August 4; Pioneer/Memorial Weekend August 10-11; Open Farm Day August 18; and Mr. Mike's Paint The Park Purple - Race For The Cure to wrap up the season on Sunday, August 25.

There is no admission fee to attend the races. There are indoor and outdoor betting kiosks and manned betting windows inside; a play area for the kids; beverage tent; and mobile concession.

 Evergreen Park is hosting its first Indigenous Celebration on June 8-9.

The two-day event will feature Indian Relay Racing and also include drummers, singers and dancers; tipis; Indigenous food; Indigenous arts and crafts; and more.

Peace Country residents will have a chance to see for themselves the extreme and intense Indian Relay Racing as it makes its first Grande Prairie appearance at J.D.A. Raceway at Evergreen Park.

Riding bareback and often decked out in traditional markings and attire, teams race around the track competing in a relay race with horse exchanges in front of the grandstand.

“The competitors relish being able to celebrate our culture’s history through this sport,” said relay racing spokesperson Kimberly Big Crow. “It ties into cultural education and connects the younger generation to their elders, which enhances skill-building and family values within our people.”

This event, Evergreen Park hopes, will be the start of a much larger annual Indigenous celebration and showcase at the Park.

“The Indigenous community is very important to us. We want to partner with our local First Nation and Mette settlements to build a showcase of Indigenous culture and heritage,” said Park General Manager Kim Randall. “The Indian relay races are truly a unique expression of the connection between Indigenous Culture and the Horse.”

Also competing, in flat races, will be Lady Warriors, Chiefs and Little Braves.

Alberta Indian Relay Racing is an organization that welcomes participants from all Nations with the largest network of Indian relay professionals in Canada focusing on the revitalization of the centuries-old sport.

“Indian Relay Racing has been a proud tradition for over 300 years,” said Big Crow. “Our mandate is to provide exposure not only for our culture and heritage, but to showcase the horsemanship of Indian Relay Racing teams … and also for fans to see firsthand what the sport of Indian Relay entails.”

The races start at 1 p.m. each day and doors open at noon.

General seating tickets and Aureus Energy Services 50/50 raffle tickets are available on the Evergreen Park website here. Admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for those 11 to 17 and 65 and over. Children 10 and under are free

There are also several sponsorship options. For information on sponsorships contact Evergreen Park Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Moon at 587-298-0548 or dmoon@evergreenpark.ca

For Information on the event:

 Kim Randall, GM, Evergreen Park

 kim@evergreenpark.ca

 780-532-3279

Unique Opportunity to hear Brett Gardiner LIVE! He IS the man behind the mic.

Sometimes life is tough and Brett gets it!

Come hear his story and more about the Chase the Good tour at Evergreen Park.

Brett will be speaking at the Foster’s Peace Country Classic Agri-Show on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. in the Chamber Room in the MD of Greenview North Wing of the TARA Centre.

Gardiner is the most-awarded announcer in Western sports history having been named the Canadian Pro Rodeo Announcer of the Year for the past 12 seasons.

He can be found behind the microphone at many rodeo events and is one of the most sought-after speakers in mental health, performance, and motivation.

Gardiner often speaks candidly about his mental health journey, and through his own lived experiences, he works to inspire and educate others to help them live their very best life. Together with his family, the Chase the Good movement was started to encourage humankind to chase what is good in the world.

You can find out more about him at his website here more about CLHbid at their website here and more about the Foster's Peace Country Classic Ag Show at the website here.

There is no pre-registration and no admission fee.

Evergreen Park is hosting Quick Dick McDick Comedy Night in the TARA Centre on Friday, Feb. 9.

The evening includes an Alberta beef buffet. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the meal goes 7-9 p.m. with the show to follow.

Tickets are $60 or $480 for a table and can be purchased here.

Dickson Delorme (born in 1983 or 1984) best known by his stage name Quick Dick McDick, is a Canadian farmer, comedian, and YouTuber. Delorme is based in Saskatchewan and produces videos about Canadian politics and farming issues. 

Delorme works as a farmer, based in Tuffnell, Sask. He previously worked in oil fields in Alberta in Brooks and Grande Prairie, mostly as a self-employed truck operator. His Small Town Comedy Tour toured Saskatchewan in 2021. 

He uses the pseudonym Quick Dick McDick on his YouTube channel, where has just under 80,000 subscribers. The channel includes content about farm safety, mental health, and charitable fundraising. 

You can follow him on YouTube; as well as on Facebook; and order his merchandise here.

The signage will be going up soon. And when it’s completed it will read: Neil’s RV Campground @ Evergreen Park.

The local RV service and repair company has taken over the naming rights for the camping facility at Evergreen Park – which started out as Stompede Campground and had been McGoverns RV & Marine Campground for the last several years.

The agreement with Neil’s is for five years. The company is owned by Jenn and Neil Dawe.

“Neil's RV decided to take on the naming rights at the campground because we feel it will be a good fit with our business model of progressing the camping lifestyle and encouraging more people to experience the outdoors,” Neil said. “When we first met campground manager Owen Terry, and his wife Velma, we were happy to see their excitement of bringing us on as sponsors of the campground and discussing what opportunities we can create to enhance the profile at the Park.”

Owen and Velma appreciate the hands-on approach Neil’s is planning.

“Velma and I are excited and look forward to having the Dawes and Neil's RV as sponsor of the campground,” Owen said. “The Dawes’ enthusiasm and approach about campground sponsorship will help make Neil's RV Campground @ Evergreen Park a place camper wants to visit.”

Jenn says Neil’s would like to be involved in social days at the Park where campers would be encouraged to get out and meet their neighbors with events like a poker rally, potluck nights, chili cook-offs and more.

 “We have also discussed potential seminars at the park on taking care of your RV or how-to sessions like winterizing and using and storing your RV,” she said.

 The campground is open from May 1 to September 30, but campers interested in booking for the 2024 season and one of the 70-plus camping sites can do so online through the Evergreen Park website at www.evergreenpark.ca

Call us out to lunch if you like, but for $10 you will be too!

The Wild Horse Casino & Lounge $10 Express Lunch has kicked off offering a different meal every day.

The Express Lunch goes 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. It is available in the Wild Horse Lounge as well as the Pines Family Restaurant.

The fun starts Thursday (Sept. 7) with the opening of Blachford Field Of Nightmares – scare you to be there!

It is open 9 p.m. to midnight, but later if there is a lineup at midnight.

Cost is $20 per person. Please bring cash.

Blachford Field Of Nightmares is located about a half kilometre east, on the left side, from the intersection of Hwy. 668 and Resources Road. Look for the Field Of Nightmares sign.

If you are in the city head south on 98th Street until you hit the lights at Hwy. 668 and turn east. If you are on the west side of the city head south on Hwy. 40 and turn east at the lights at the Hwy. 668 intersection.

Build up some courage before, or settle the nerves after, by visiting the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge at the Park. Wild Horse is open until 1 a.m. every day.

Have you ever seen a sloth?

Here’s your chance at the Wildlife Festival, which goes Sept. 8-10 in the TARA Centre at Evergreen Park.

There are three exhibits – Diversity of Living Things, This is Africa and Journey To the Amazon and two half-hour hands-on educational programs.

It goes Friday 1-6:30 p.m. for general audiences with an adults-only education and comedy show from 7-9 p.m. Saturday doors are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Purchase tickets in advance online at:  https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wildlifefestival/976230

The Evergreen Park Pavilion – Lewis Hawkes and Drysdale Arenas – will be busy with the Peace Country Barrel Racing Association championships.

Friday things get underway at 9 a.m. with opening riding and first go at noon. On Saturday second go starts at 10 a.m. with the AGM and social/bar at 5 p.m. On Sunday the third go starts at 9 a.m.

There is no admission fee.  Check out the Peace Barrel Racing Association Facebook page for more information.