The Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede turns 125 this year. Here is what is on, what it costs, where to park, and what the chamber is running downtown during fair week.

The Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede runs Wednesday, September 2 through Sunday, September 6, 2026. This is the 125th IPE. The fair takes place at the Armstrong Fairgrounds, 3371 Pleasant Valley Road.

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Agricultural Society runs the IPE. The chamber is sharing this information to help residents and visitors plan their week.

The fair started in 1899 as a settler tabletop show. Growers compared crops and livestock to work out what did well in the valley. It has run every year since, apart from 2020 and 2021.

“Reaching our 125th exhibition is a proud moment for everyone connected to the Armstrong IPE and Stampede,” Kelly Kennedy, president of the Armstrong IPE and Stampede, told the Vernon Morning Star in June. “The IPE has always been more than an event on the calendar. It is a place where agriculture comes to life.”

This year celebrates photography and 125 years

Photography is the featured division for 2026. The IPE describes the year as “celebrating all things photography, and of course, Celebrating 125 Years at the IPE.”

What is on

The exhibition is the reason the fair exists. Nineteen divisions cover more than 1,000 classes, including livestock, baking, preserves, garden produce, sewing, crafts, and 4-H. Local farms and food producers fill a good share of the barns and tables.

Professional rodeo runs every day of the fair, with the pro bull riding final on Sunday. The Fun Zone midway runs Wednesday through Sunday. Two stages carry live music all five days, and Cowboy Church opens the Main Stage at 9:00 AM on Sunday.

The daily attractions this year include cow milking and calf feeding, gold panning with Yukon Dan, a lumberjack show, Evan the Juggler, and the Little Pro Rodeo. The Reptile Queen appears on select days.

The 19+ barn dances run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

The parade is Saturday morning

The IPE Parade starts at 10:00 AM sharp on Saturday, September 5. It is free to watch. The IPE posts a parade map so spectators can pick a spot ahead of time.

What it costs

Gate admission for 2026:

Adult, $22
Youth 13 to 17, $16
Child 6 to 12, $10
Senior 60 and over, $16, and $14 on Wednesday and Thursday
Family, two adults and up to four children, $55, or $45 bought in advance
Children five and under, free.

Three-day and five-day passes bring the daily cost down. Rodeo admission is $25 on Wednesday and Thursday, $30 on Friday, $35 on Saturday, and $45 on Sunday. The dances are $30 a night. A midway ride pass is $45. Service fees are added at checkout.

Buy ahead at armstrongipe.com. Rodeo nights sell out.

Where to park

Fair parking is $10 a day, and the main IPE lot sits off Wood Avenue.

The chamber is asking fairgoers heading to the grounds to use the designated IPE lots so downtown spaces stay open for customers, deliveries, and residents. The downtown parking guide has the full map, the paid lots near the grounds, and the three free public lots.

Downtown during fair week

Downtown businesses stay open through the fair, and the chamber has a reason to walk over.

Discover Downtown IPE Edition: Capture 125 runs Saturday, August 29 through Sunday, September 6. Participating businesses built window displays around this year’s photography theme. Each display hides a numbered vintage camera cutout. Find the cameras, match the numbers to the businesses, and hand in the entry form for a chance to win. Public voting decides the People’s Choice winner. Details are on the Discover Downtown page.

Fair week is the busiest week of the year for local tables and rooms. Book ahead, and use the chamber directory for restaurants and cafes, retail, and accommodation.

Good to know before you go

Pets are not allowed on the grounds. Service animals are the exception and may need proof.
Gate re-entry runs 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM. After that, re-entry is at Gate 2 until 10:00 PM.
Water bottle refill stations are on the grounds, so bring a refillable bottle.
Accessible parking is first come, first served. Transporters run from one end of the grounds to the other. The IPE does not supply wheelchairs.
Schedules change. Check armstrongipe.com the day before.

Making a week of it

Visitors with time either side of the fair can find drive times, farms, trails, and lakes on the community page and the tourism page. The events calendar lists what else is on, and practical services covers pharmacies, gas, and public WiFi.

For visitor information, contact the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre at 3005 Wood Avenue.

Phone (250) 546-8155 or email [email protected].

For tickets, daily schedules, and fair questions, contact the IPE at (250) 546-9406, [email protected], or armstrongipe.com.

The 125th Armstrong IPE runs September 2 to 6