The annual demolition derby will return to North Battleford this weekend, for the first time since 2019. (Facebook/Battlefords Agricultural Society)

By Martin Martinson

Ag Society events

Demo Derby coming to North Battleford this weekend

Sep 7, 2021 | 4:37 PM

The Battlefords Agricultural Society will be holding their 36^th Annual Demo Derby Saturday, Sept. 11 at the exhibition grounds in North Battleford.

It will be the first event of its kind in the community since 2019, after last year’s was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Usually a high-flying three-hour event held during the yearly exhibition, this year will also be just the second time in recent memory the demo derby has been turned into a standalone event, with its own weekend in the community, separate from the Ag. Society’s summer midway.

“There’s lots of excitement about having a one-off show separate from the midway, and especially since we weren’t able to have one last year,” Chair of the event, Greg Korpach said. “It’s going to allow us to kind of extend it out from a three-hour show to maybe a four or five-hour show.”

In addition to the main derby races, there will also be a show ‘n shine, a barrel racing event (with small cars in place of horses), and a ‘compact mini’ demolition heat incorporated into the show this year.

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While the main derby will begin with their first heat at 1 p.m., the gate to the exhibition grounds will open as early as 10 a.m., with the show ‘n shine, and car inspections to start the day. Food vendors are expected to arrive as well in the late morning, around 11 a.m.

Between the car show, the food vendors, the volunteers and the grandstands, the Ag. Society generally sees around 1,000 to 2,000 people for the derby in a given year, a number Korpach said he hopes they can replicate this year.

He said should they see a strong turnout, that could lead to the derby becoming its own event on a regular basis in summers to come.

“Absolutely, if we’re creating some real excitement and that leads to some real success here then we could definitely see a new formula [in future years],” Korpach said.

Saturday’s gate will be open at 10 a.m., with the final shows expected to wrap in the early evening between 5 and 6 p.m. General admission will be available at the gate.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1