Attendance numbers are in for the 2023 QCX, and while they were down a bit, the REAL District said security incidents were down significantly over 2022 due to better screening.
A total of 259,530 people hit the fair between Wednesday and Sunday last week. That’s seven per cent lower than last year, but the REAL District said that’s historically consistent when the fair dates align with a long weekend.
REAL President and CEO Tim Reid said their goal was to improve the fair experience for young and old, and he said thanks to their team it was a cleaner and safer fair.
Volunteers with the North Central Community Association and the Regina Optimist Dolphins Swimming program helped with cleanliness on the ground, Reid said.
$72,203 was raised for the food bank, with Joey Chestnut breaking his own world record for mini doughnuts eaten, at the QCX Eating Contest presented by Harvard Media.
The amount of meals bought for the food bank – 200,000 – is 14 per cent higher than last year.
“Our partnership with REAL and QCX is very important to our organization,” said John Bailey, CEO of Regina Food bank said in a media release from QCX. “It raises awareness for our need and this year’s competitors were fabulous in assisting us in raising these much-needed funds.”
Some of the mainstays at the fair including the Regina Symphony Orchestra and Fireworks, free pancake breakfast Sunday and the Kidway Morning and Newcomers programs saw their highest attendance numbers ever.
Start booking your holidays now, as dates for the 2024 QCX are set for July 31 to August 4 of next year.
