The gates open today for the Queen City Ex, presented by SaskTel starts today! The QCX is a summer staple in Regina and will be Turning Up the Fun for 5 days today through Sunday, August 2 at the REAL District. Gates open at 12 p.m. each day and close at midnight.
The Original 16 Grandstand Stage features a wide selection of genres with something that will appeal to everyone. 90s country will kick off the week tonight with Billy Dean and Collin Raye.
Billy Dean & Collin Raye Presented by 620 CKRM & SaskTel
Show time: 8 p.m.
Fan Zone Access: 6 p.m.
General admission to all concerts is included with a QCX Gate Admission Pass, giving every fairgoer access to the Original 16 Stage performances. For those looking to get closer to the action, The QCX Fan Zone Pass offers an upgraded concert experience and can be purchased online for $22 per show.
Billy Dean Bio
It’s been 35 years since Billy Dean released his 1990 debut album Young Man, and as the singer, songwriter, and musician will proudly tell you, he doesn’t have much in common with that title these days.
Dean has matured and evolved, and, along the way, refocused his attention on what he considers the most important part of his career: storytelling. After decades of industry success, including a pair of ACM Awards wins, a Grammy nomination, and eight Top 5 singles, he’s happily entered his American Troubadour era.
Born and raised in the north Florida town of Quincy, Dean saw only a few options for his future. He could become a farmer, a mechanic, or commit himself to some general type of blue-collar hard work in Quincy. But Dean also played guitar in a band with his father and was drawn to country music, even if he wasn’t fond of its songs about a hardscrabble existence. “It wasn’t funny to me that our cars were up on blocks and we had holes in our socks. That was our real life,” he says, “and everything I was trying to run away from. Music and the support of my community is what eventually got me out.”
Dean has been mixing melody with storytelling during his solo acoustic concerts, which touch on all 10 of his Top 10 singles, from “Only Here for a Little While” to “That Girl’s Been Spyin’ on Me,” and also preview some of his new material — like the metaphor for a life well-lived, “Handkerchief.”
While Dean, 62, is no longer the “young man” of his breakthrough album, he’s found himself returning to its title track of late, dissecting the lyrics he wrote when he was just 23. He’s been rewriting them for today and is rerecording not only the song, but the entire Young Man album, in a way that represents his one-man live show.
Collin Raye Bio
Collin Raye was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top ten records, 16 #1 hits, and having been a 10-time male vocalist of the year nominee (5 CMA and 5 ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.
Collin Raye is nothing if not passionate. His soulful delivery has set country standards in such searing ballads as “Love, Me,” “In This Life,” “Not That Different” and “If I were you”. Always an energizing showman, he has also blazed through such vivid rockers as “My Kind of Girl,” “That’s My Story,” “I Can Still Feel You” and “I Want You Bad.”
Collin shot to fame with “Love, Me” in 1991. Listeners were so moved by this golden and pure voice that this song set the cornerstone for a career built on meaningful and emotional songs that have often been used for weddings, anniversaries, memorial services and funerals. When “Little Rock”, an anthem for those struggling with addition recovery, hit the chart in 1994, its video led to over 100,000 phone calls to Alcoholics Anonymous from folks seeking help in their addictions. “Not That Different” was a song that pleaded for tolerance. “In This Life” became a wedding favorite, and “I Think About You” won awards for its song and video which exposed the exploitation of women and children.
West Coast Amusements
We are welcoming back Canadian owned and operated West Coast Amusements for another year. The company is based in Chilliwack, British Columbia and is prepared to offer fair goers a top-quality experience. They are a multi-generational family run company and have set up a large selection of rides.
Kiddieland
Kiddieland will offer hours of fun for the kids this summer. It’s a great opportunity for families to create new memories for years to come. The ride list is subject to change.
Kiddieland Hours: Noon – 10:30 p.m. *Hours are weather and crowd dependent.
Bulgy the Whale Monster Truck
Charlie Chopper Peter Paul Dragon
Choo-choo Charlie Stampede Fever
Berry-Go-Round Spring Ride
Convoy Super Slide
Dragon Wagon Wacky Shack
Kite Flyer Hog Rally
Children must be a minimum of 36 inches and at least 2 years of age to ride. Height and age requirements for reference only; the requirements posted at the entrance of each ride and enforced by West Coast Amusements staff override those listed below. Ride lineup may change without notice.
QCX Midway – Majorland
Majorland will feature all the favourites and some new rides. This is another great opportunity to relive some of those memories and create new ones with family and friends. Plus, The Zipper is back!
Majorland Hours: Noon – Midnight – Hours are weather and crowd dependent.
Alien Abduction Rock Star
Carousel Sizzler
Cliffhanger Speed
Fireball Supershot
Freak Out Tilt-a-Whirl
Frenzy Tornado
Gondola Wheel Vertigo
Himalaya Yo-Yo
Hurricane Zero Gravity
KHAOS Zipper
Mardi Gras
Schedule for Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Family Stage presented by SaskMilk
PAW Patrol Sky Storytime + Meet & Greet – 1 p.m., 3 p.m., & 5 p.m.
Terrance Littletent – 1:45 p.m. & 4:15 p.m.
Flying Fools High Dive Show – 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., & 5:30 p.m.
Ag Zone – The Farm – Ag-Ex West Building
The Farmer’s Daughter Show – 12:30 p.m. & 3 p.m., & 5:30 p.m.
The Magic Bean – 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., & 6 p.m.
Kids Tractor Pull – 1:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., & 6:45 p.m.
Aces Flying Pig Races – 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., & 7:30 p.m.
Ag-Ex East Building
Memory Lane presented by Sleek Signs – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Banner Hall
Marketplace – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thrill Zone Presented by Regina Plumbing & Heating
Rekless Motorsports Ride-alongs – 12 p.m.
Rekless Motorsports 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., & 7 p.m.
Classic Strongman Showcase – 5:30 p.m.
Extreme Zone
SuperDogs: Bow Wow Factor – 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m.,
Sask Drift Showcase – 3 p.m. outdoors in Lot D
Original 16 Midway Stage & Beer Garden
Hypnotist Jamie James – 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Trigger Bang – 6 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.
Original 16 Grandstand Stage
DJ – 6 p.m.
Billy Dean & Collin Raye presented by SaskTel & 620 CKRM – 8 p.m.
Fan Zone Access starts at 7 p.m.
Events coming up include:
QCX 5K Midway Run, presented by the Running Room – Sunday, August 2 at 9 a.m. – QCX Midway
Register at queencityex.com to take part in a 5k run through the midway and Mosaic Stadium
Family Day Pancake Breakfast, presented by SaskMilk – Sunday, August 2 at 10 a.m. – Confederation Park
Bring a donation for the Regina Food Bank and enjoy a free pancake breakfast and free admission to QCX
Prices for 2026 include all taxes and fees and are the same for all fairgoers:
Gate Pass Prices:
General $22 per person
Friends & Family Pack (includes four passes) $77
Ride All Day $58 (through West Coast Amusements)
Children 12 and under get in free between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. when accompanied by an adult
Children 3 an under FREE
Details for Queen City Ex, presented by SaskTel can be found at http://www.queencityex.com
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