Photo Credit: GP Women's Show Facebook page.

By Shane Clausing

Women's show

Grande Prairie Woman’s Show gets underway Friday

Oct 14, 2020 | 2:21 PM

The 26th annual Grande Prairie Women’s Show is set to get underway at the Bowes Event Centre this Friday.

This annual show brings together women’s exhibits from Alberta and across Western Canada and gives people the chance to check out all of the latest fashions.

Sandi Stetson, with the Grande Prairie Women’s Show, says that they’ve worked closely with the City of Grande Prairie and Alberta Health Services amid COVID-19 to ensure that the event happens safely.

“We have got all of our physical distancing measures in place, but we are still social. Any requirements that any store or salon would have, we have in place at the show. All of our exhibitors are well versed on all the guidelines that they have to follow.”

“We have all of the sterilizers in place, the gloves and all of our vendors are wearing a combination of masks, face shields and barriers at every single booth. I’ve been working very closely with AHS and the City and we are ready.”

At this moment, for those attending the Women’s Show as a guest, masks will be recommended, but will remain optional. However, since the case numbers have gone up in Grande Prairie, Stetson says that they will continue to follow the order of the City and local health authorities.

With the event ready to go for this Friday, there is a lot of excitement building for the close to 100 vendors that will be attending. This show will be many vendors’ first show in 2020.

With less space this year at the Bowes Event Centre, there will also be vendors outside the main entrance in trailers, featuring various items and activities.

Attendance into the Bowes Event Centre will be staggered. Those attending will have to purchase tickets in 1.5-hour time slots. There will be tickets available at the Revolution Place box office.

While timeslots are limited to 90 minutes per session, Stetson says that depending on the numbers, some visitors could potentially stay longer.

“We are watching numbers as they come in the doors and we know how many people can be in the venue at once, and we are tracking them. If people want to stay a little bit longer than an hour and a half, then they just have to listen for announcements. If we have a big block waiting to come in, then they have to go. But if our numbers are ok, then they could stay in.”

The hours for the Women’s Show are:

• Friday, October 16 – 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18 – 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Stetson says she is looking forward to a successful show.

“Well we won’t be able to accommodate the attendance that we are used to in the past, I’m optimistic that we are going to be busy and everyone’s going to be happy doing their shopping and physical distancing.”

Stetson adds that if you are attending the show this weekend, you should review all of the guidelines that have been put in place, so you can help make a difference in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

You can find the guidelines and tickets here.