The countdown to Frontier Days is now officially underway as the Swift Current Ag & Ex announced the events for this summer's 85th anniversary edition.

"We are celebrating 'Steers and Cheers for 85 years,'" said Tracey Stevenson, General Manager of the Swift Current Ag & Ex. "We'll be kicking off Frontier Days on June 28 with the annual pancake breakfast and burning of the brand, the Kiddies' Day Parade at 4:00pm and West Coast Amusements will be opening at 4:00pm. We're excited to be bringing back the Innovation Credit Union Culture Stage at Hansen Park highlighting performances from culture groups in Swift Current and the southwest. Also, back for 2023 is the 4-H livestock shows, steer sale, heavy horse competitions and pulls, and free family entertainment, and we can't forget about the CCA Rodeo performances featured at Magnus Newland Arena June 29 at 5:00pm and June 30 and July 1 at 2:00pm."

The fair will feature three nights of grandstand entertainment. On June 29 and 30, the Swift Current Stock Car Association will host the Frontier City Racing Invitational, featuring the minis, streets and hobbies, as well as the Alberta Extreme Sprints Tour, with racing starting at 7:00pm both nights and a cabaret will follow each night.

Canada Day kicks off with the parade at 10:00am and wraps up with the Living Sky Casino fireworks at 11:00pm and two award-winning Canadian country acts will take the stage at the grandstand.

"The first headliner is a two-time CCMA winner, a JUNO Award winner and an acclaimed songwriter who has collaborated with Rodney Clawson, Gord Bamford, and Chad Kroeger. Her hits include 'Bow Chicka Wow Wow', 'The Bad Guy', and her #1 Canadian Country hit, 'Walls Come Down'. We're excited to announce Meghan Patrick," said Meghan Muri, Events Coordinator for the Ag & Ex. "The next headline act last graced the stage at Frontier Days in 2017. Since then, they have gone on to become JUNO Award Winners and 9-time CCMA award winners including 3-time consecutive Group of the Year and 5-time CCMA Roots Artist/Album of the Year. This trio is among Canada’s most outstanding country bands, and one of the most talked about live bands today. Their hits 'Country Thunder', 'Shut Er Down' and 'Shot of Glory' are all staples on country music stations across the country. We're happy to announce The Washboard Union will be joining us again for Frontier Days."

Tickets to the races, concert and CCA Rodeo will be available starting next week along with the popular platinum passes which Stevenson says gives fairgoers their best value.

"Our annual Frontier Days platinum passes will be going on for $85, they're valued at $158 and after the ticket blitz sale, they'll be going up to $110, so you'll be saving big-time money," she said. "There will only be 500 available at that price."

Tickets and platinum passes will be available at the City-Wide Connection event on March 8 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm and the Step Into Spring trade show from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on March 10 and 10:00am to 5:00pm on March 11. After March 15, tickets will be available at Pharmasave and the Ag & Ex office in the Palliser Pavilion and online starting April 3 at swiftcurrentex.com.