Pandemic uncertainty forces IPE to cancel this year’s fair

This year's Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede in Armstrong has been cancelled.

The annual IPE held in Armstrong was slated for September but has now been postponed until 2022.

"The continued uncertainty surrounding COVID, particularly with the emerging COVID-19 variants, left the board of directors with the heartbreaking decision to postpone the IPE another year," IPE president Heather King said in a media release.

The release says that while it may seem too early to decide to cancel, the event brings in tens of thousands of people to Armstrong and the planning process starts early.

"This was not an easy choice and we would like to thank all our guests, vendors, not-for-profit groups and exhibitors for their ongoing support of our event," the release says.

The Armstrong fair was first held in 1899 and until last year had only been cancelled once before in 1905.

The IPE board of directors says it may host some mini-events this fall depending on the public health situation later this year.

The board says it is planning a "new and revitalized" fair for 2022.

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