The Pacific National Exhibition and the neighbouring Playland Amusement Park are permanent facilities in Hastings Park in east Vancouver. In the last two weeks of August, the number of enclosures in the area temporarily increases in order to create the fair. Many people appreciate the fair for the rides, the food, the entertainment, and the wide variety of items that can be purchased. The event started out as an agricultural exhibition, however, and still stays true to its roots.
Animals and Plants on Display
While viewing so-called “market animals” at the PNE fair is always sad, looking at the other ones is enjoyable. The horse show is always interesting. The show includes horse jumping competitions and Clydesdale draft horses demonstrating their skills. The fair contains plant displays as well. In addition, there are two gardens and one natural park on the fairground, which are interesting to explore. The Italian Garden always has a beautiful display of blooming black-eyed Susans during the fair. The flowers bloom in late summer and early fall and are at their prime at the start of the fair. The species is found in the wild and in cultivation. Multiple cultivars exist. Some bloom earlier in the summer than the ones on the PNE grounds. The plants are perennials, biennials, or annuals, depending on the variety.
The black-eyed Susan’s scientific name is Rudbeckia hirta. Its genus was named after Olaus Rudbeck the younger (1660-1740) He was a professor at the University of Uppsala in Sweden and taught Carl Linnaeus. The latter scientist is credited with the creation of the binomial system of naming organisms (genus plus species).
The black-eyed Susan is native to eastern and central North America but has been introduced to other areas. The vibrant flowers of the species are greatly admired. The plant belongs to the sunflower family, which is not hard to believe when the beautiful yellow to orange petals of the flowers are seen. The “petals” aren’t what they seem, however. The plant has a composite flower, or an inflorescence. The raised, black or purple disk in the centre is composed of disk florets and each yellow extension is part of a ray floret. The flowers are pollinated by insects. When I visited the fair and took the photos in this article, the day was sunny and bees were visiting the flowers. Watching their activities can be an absorbing pastime.
The leaves of the plant are oval and toothed and have a pointed tip. They are also hairy. They are mostly basal, but some can be found on the flowering stems. Parts of the the black-eyed Susan plant have been used medicinally by the indigenous people of North America. The plant as a whole isn’t considered to be edible, however, so it’s important that it’s not eaten.
The Italian Garden
The stone face that can be seen on the left in the photo of the flowers below is a depiction of Canio. He's the character who plays the role of a clown in the theatre troop depicted in the opera Pagliacci. The face on the right represents Turandot. The area of the garden with the statues and the black-eyed Susans in front is called the Opera Walk. Characters from several famous Italian operas can be seen along the walk.
When the fair is not in operation, the fence between the Italian Garden and the road that passes by it (Renfrew Street) is removed. This allows people to freely access the garden, the PNE grounds, and the other garden and park areas of the fairground (but not Playland). The Italian Garden is quite small but has several attractions, including fountains and statues other than those of the Opera Walk. It’s well worth visiting at any time of year, but especially in the summer. Hastings Park beyond the PNE and Playland offers natural attractions and is also worth visiting. Attractive landscaping and a walking trail have been established in the area and a stream that was covered for sixty years has been revealed. Hastings Park, which has long been commercialized, is being partially returned to nature.
Attending the Fair
The fair generally has promotional days when people can enter the fairground for a reduced price if certain conditions are met. On specific days they can even enter the site for free. The possibilities for reduced or free entry rates vary each year, however. The PNE’s website has information about the special admission days. The days can be useful for people who would like to save their money for rides, foods, and entertainment (although most of the performances at the fair are free). They can also be useful for visitors who are curious about what the fair offers but are particularly interested in late-August nature on the fairground, like me. The area of the park beyond the PNE and Playland is free to explore at any time of the year.
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