What's new for Old Home Week 2016

After hosting P.E.I.'s largest agricultural fair for 128 years, Old Home Week organizers have agood idea what visitors to the Charlottetown event want: food, fun, some family-oriented entertainment, the midway, livestock shows and harness racing but there are some new attractions this year.

Old Home Week 2016 begins at Red Shores and Charlottetown's Eastlink Centre Thursday and runs until August 20.

"We like to keep the children's shows fresh and new," said Sandra Hodder-Acorn, the new general manager for Old Home Week.

"We like to offer something new for the kids and the mums and dads so they're not seeing the same thing as the year before."

Comedy juggler Josh Casey from the U.S. will perform an interactive show that Hodder-Acorn predicts is going to be a big hit with everyone.

"Also we have The Cutest Show on Earth it's a high-energy show designed to get the family actually involved and playing together. The kids get to dress up and become the star performers in a live theatre experience," said Hodder-Acorn.

Both shows will be presented several times each day inside the Eastlink Centre.

'Bit of pizzazz'

Another new attraction is called Puzzlemania. Every day from noon until to 6 p.m., adults and children can play games, solve brain-teasers and complete jigsaw puzzles.

"Everybody loves games and puzzles, but these puzzles and games have an edgy look and a little bit of pizzazz with it so it's going to entertain and challenge your minds," Hodder-Acornsaid.

The entertainment and shows are all included in the price of admission, which remains the same as last year: $12 per day for those 12 and over, $7 for those ages six to 12 and preschoolers get in free. You can also buy a 10-day pass for $25.

Admission, entertainment changes

However there is onebig change when it comes to admission: there will be no charge for those 19 and older after 9 p.m. every night during OHW, part of a new initiative presumably designed to get more spectators out to the racetrack.

There are new lineups of musical entertainers for the nightly Sounds of the Island series, added Hodder-Acorn, with different theme nights including Ladies First and Friday Night Ho Down.

Campbell's Amusements returns to provide midway thrills, opening Thursday at 6 p.m., and will setup one new children's ridecalled the Rockin'tug, Hodder-Acorn shared.

Also returning are mainstay attractions Women's Institute handcraft and art display, horse and cattle shows, the 4-H exploration centre andfood demonstrations.

The Gold Cup Parade begins August 19 at 10 a.m.

The festivities culminate with the Gold Cup and Saucer race Saturday night just before midnight.

Dash for Cash

There will also be a $100,000 Dash for Cash in which Red Shores will draw the names of two fans the only requirement is you must wager $10 or more.

They win a chancetake home $100,000 if theyguess the exact order of all finishers in the Gold Cup and Saucer Race. Organizers did a similar promotion in July for the Governor's Plate, said Red Shores marketing manager Lee Drake, and the guess was off by only two horses.

The horses competing in the trials for the Gold Cup will be announced ata news conference Tuesday and the public can find out more about this year's Gold Cup ambassadors then.

For more information and daily schedules, check out oldhomeweekpei.com.

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