Armstrong IPE in the running for top B.C. festival

ARMSTRONG – It may already be number one in the minds of many, but the Interior Provincial Exhibition is close to being ranked as the top festival in B.C. as part of a WestJet contest.

The online contest invites people to vote for what they think the province's, and the country's, best festival is. The IPE currently sits in second place in B.C., with the Okanagan Wine Festivals in Kelowna claiming first place. Nation wide, the IPE is ranked as the 15th best festival. The Calgary Stampede is leading the way with first place so far in both Alberta and Canada.

IPE general manager Bryan Burns says the fair has greatly improved its standing since last year, when it placed around 12th in B.C.

"We're doing really well, we're just trying to maintain our ranking and get people to keep voting," he says.

The contest allows you to vote once each day, and Burns is encouraging people to keep it up until September.

"It creates awareness for our great event," Burns says.

The event draws around 150,000 people through its gates each summer during five days spread over the Labour Day long weekend.

"We attract people from all over the place. We have a great following across B.C. and Canada, and internationally as well," Burns says. "it's really neat to find our where everyone is from. We're a big fair in a small town."

What makes the IPE so unique, Burns says, is its combination of old and new.

"We maintain our agricultural roots, but there's always new stuff too," Burns says.

Everyone who votes in the WestJet contest is entered to win one of three prizes, all of which include airfare, accommodation and tickets to a Canadian festival.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.