History of Cloverdale Fairgrounds

The Cloverdale Fairgrounds have hosted countless competitions, fairs and celebrations over the years. Learn more about the history of Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

For many years, the Cloverdale Fairgrounds has been a site of community gathering, playing host to competitions, fairs, and celebrations.

The Cloverdale Fairgrounds, like all of Surrey, are located on the unceded traditional territory of the Salish peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) Nations.

These deep ancestral ties continue to this day. Newcomers to the region arrived in the late 19th century and began building homes, businesses and farms in the area.

In 1888, an annual Fall Fair began operating about one mile southwest of the Fairgrounds. Fifty years later in 1938, the fair moved to the current site, providing a new venue for the community to gather and showcase the accomplishments of Surrey’s growing agricultural community.

In 1946, the first Cloverdale Rodeo was held at this location. Over time, additional amenities were added to the Fairgrounds to support community gatherings year-round, including the:

Cloverdale Community Centre/Shannon Hall (1956);
Cloverdale Arena (1972);
Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre (1999); and
Cloverdale Recreation Centre (2011).

The Cloverdale Community Centre was renamed Shannon Hall in 1987 in honour of the Shannon family. The Shannons were among the first newcomers to arrive in what is now Cloverdale. Members of the family have played a pivotal role in the growth of the community, including leading Surrey’s first municipal council, establishing Surrey’s first school, and forming the Surrey Agricultural Society. Notably, Jack Shannon was co-founder of the Cloverdale Rodeo.

In 1996, the products building at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds was renamed McKay Hall. This was done to honour Alice McKay for her decades of dedicated volunteering for the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition.