Red River Exhibition Association

What Red River Exhibition Association does

Red River Exhibition Association is a non-profit, member-owned organization headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, operating from a 480-acre Exhibition Park. Founded in 1951/1952 and federally chartered in 1964, the association produces and hosts more than 240 event days annually, anchored by signature events including The EX (Red River EX), Witchy Wonderland, Winter Wonderland, and harness racing. It serves Manitoba residents and regional visitors with seasonal fairs, entertainment programming, community events, and agricultural-related initiatives, and is self-sustaining without government funding, employing approximately 10 full-time staff supplemented by 250+ volunteers and a 150-member base.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified mix of ticketing, venue rentals, corporate sponsorships, food and beverage concessions, and parking, and reports an annual $25 million economic impact on the provincial economy. Its asset base includes the Exhibition Park grounds, harness racing facilities, and an expanding portfolio that now encompasses John Blumberg Park, assumed in February 2025, and The Gallery, a new venue scheduled to open in fall 2026. Strategic partners include Canad Inns for Winter Wonderland.

The association is repositioning under the "Red River District" banner, recasting itself from a single annual fair operator into a multi-venue district operator. Its go-to-market is anchored in recurring seasonal event IP and a deep community volunteer and membership base rather than digital distribution or technology-led monetization.

Name

Red River Exhibition Association

Legal name

Red River Exhibition Association

Website

https://redriverex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Red River Exhibition Association is a Winnipeg-based non-profit operating a 480-acre Exhibition Park, hosting 240+ event days annually including The EX, seasonal attractions, and harness racing, with revenue from ticketing, rentals, sponsorships, and concessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue and Exhibition Services

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (713110), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO), General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Holiday, Seasonal & Christmas Markets (MPAGAFAL), Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG)

Keywords

• Event venue management
• Agricultural exhibition services
• Holiday light show
• Venue rental services
• Community event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Admissions and Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for signature events including The EX, Witchy Wonderland, Winter Wonderland, and various third-party hosted events. Pricing varies by event with general admission ranging from $20-$30 per person.
2. Venue Rental: Rental fees for indoor spaces (Exhibition Place, Red Barn, The Loop Display Building) and outdoor spaces to corporate clients, organizations, and individuals hosting private events, weddings, trade shows, and sports tournaments.
3. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Multi-tiered sponsorship packages for events and venues including Presenting Partner, Supporting Partner, and Community Partner levels. Includes naming rights, signage, marketing integration, and on-site presence.
4. Food and Beverage Concessions: On-site food and beverage sales through owned canteens and third-party food trucks. RREA reserves rights to food and beverage sales at events.
5. Parking Revenue: Parking fees for some events. Most third-party events offer free parking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Red River Exhibition Association operates a 480-acre multi-purpose event venue (Exhibition Park) in Winnipeg, hosting 240+ event days annually. Its core offerings include venue rental services (indoor and outdoor spaces for corporate, private, and third-party events), signature event programming (The EX annual fair, Witchy Wonderland, Canad Inns Winter Wonderland drive-through light show, and Manitoba Harness Racing at The LOOP), sponsorship packages, and food/beverage concessions at events.

Product overview

The Red River Exhibition Association (RREA) is a non-profit, member-owned organization chartered by Manitoba in 1951 that operates Exhibition Park, a 480-acre multi-purpose event venue in Winnipeg. The organization's portfolio consists of two primary layers: venue/facility management and signature event programming. The venue layer includes Exhibition Park (480 acres), John Blumberg Park (sports complex), and multiple named indoor and outdoor rental spaces (Exhibition Place, The Gallery, Red Barn, Central Park, Red River Meadows, The LOOP, Display Building, Viewing Shed, SL100 Mobile Stage, Boat House). The event programming layer includes both RREA-produced signature events — The EX (flagship annual fair), Manitoba Harness Racing at The LOOP, Witchy Wonderland (Halloween event), and Canad Inns Winter Wonderland (drive-through holiday lights) — and third-party hosted events. Supporting programs include the Red River Exhibition Foundation (scholarships and bursaries) and the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame. The RREA also manages Festival Early Learning Child Care Centres, Festival Holdings, and is rebranding the venue as the Red River District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The EX: Manitoba's largest and most anticipated annual fair held at Exhibition Park. Taglines include 'Big Adventure, Bigger Smiles, at Manitoba's Biggest Fair', 'Summer Starts Here', and 'What's your THRILL?'
• Witchy Wonderland
• Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
• Red River Exhibition Foundation
• The LOOP
• John Blumberg Park
• Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame
• Festival Early Learning Child Care Centres

Products and services

• Exhibition Park A 480-acre multi-purpose event venue on Winnipeg's western edge hosting 240+ event days per year with indoor and outdoor rental spaces.
• The EX Manitoba's largest and most anticipated annual fair held at Exhibition Park, featuring rides, entertainment, food vendors, agricultural exhibitions, and family attractions.
• The LOOP The official home of Manitoba Harness Racing and a versatile outdoor venue for concerts and rodeo events, with a race track, paddock area, licensed viewing area, and stage capacity for approximately 1,200 spectators.
• Witchy Wonderland A seasonal fall/Halloween event featuring rides, themed areas, live entertainment, fireworks, face painting, and food vendors, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Red River Exhibition Foundation.
• Canad Inns Winter Wonderland Western Canada's largest drive-through holiday light show featuring over two million lights, themed displays across a 2.5 km route, a 90-foot Christmas tree, horse-drawn hayrides, outdoor skating, and food vendors, held at The LOOP venue.
• John Blumberg Park An outdoor soccer and baseball facility in Headingley at 4500 Portage Avenue featuring 13 soccer fields and 7 baseball diamonds, with food and beverage service, tournament, and league hosting capabilities.
• Red River Exhibition Foundation A charitable foundation that awards over 20 scholarships and bursaries annually to Manitoba students pursuing post-secondary education in agriculture, tourism, aerospace, business, and performing arts.
• Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame A hall of fame established in 1976 and operated by RREA to honour agricultural innovators and leaders in Manitoba, with an on-site gallery at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
• Exhibition Place A 35,750-square-foot indoor exhibition and multi-purpose event space used for over 230 event days per year, accommodating up to 2,500 people for sit-down dinners or up to 150 trade show booths.
• The Gallery – Wedding & Event Centre A multi-purpose event venue on the west side of Exhibition Park with 13,099 square feet of space, seating for 260 (or 500 theatre-style), a full commercial kitchen, and parking for 300 vehicles.
• Red Barn A 3,200-square-foot authentic barn with asphalt floors, 40-foot ceilings, and full electrical service, ideal for informal dinners, hoe-downs, and small trade or consumer shows, with an attached 10' x 100' patio and adjacent Red Barn Tent.
• Central Park An open-air concert venue at Exhibition Park capable of accommodating 5,000 concert-goers, featuring a 64' x 48' illuminated stage, permanent covered shed rows, and adjacent natural grass amphitheatre with a 350' x 150' asphalt performance area.
• Red River Meadows Manitoba's premier horse facility at the north end of Exhibition Park, consisting of four barns for stabling horses, two warm-up rings, a main ring (250' x 330'), a hunter ring (255' x 150'), and a hacking and lunging field.
• SL100 Mobile Stage A user-friendly, rapidly deployable mobile stage with a rigging capacity of 11,400 lbs, recommended for crowds up to 5,000 people, with adjustable stage area from 7.3m x 6.1m up to 12.2m x 9.8m and rain-proof wind walls on three sides.
• Manitoba Harness Racing at The LOOP Live Standardbred harness racing at The LOOP venue, running from August through October, featuring race wagering, paddock experiences, and live spectator seating for approximately 1,200 people.
• Hutterite Manufacturing & Associate Expo A two-day trade expo featuring Hutterite-made household, farming, and building supplies, with exhibitors offering products such as hog feeders, metal fabrication, HVAC equipment, concrete work, and more.
• Winnipeg Tattoo Convention An annual three-day tattoo convention featuring over 270 tattoo artists, including local talent and international artists, with walk-up tattoos, artwork, merchandise, music, beer gardens, and a market.
• Artifact Alley: Collexpo Central A collector and hobby marketplace event featuring rare trading cards, Pokémon collectibles, vintage finds, pop culture merchandise, and handmade goods held at Exhibition Place.
• Speed World An annual EDM event at Exhibition Park featuring a car show, electronic dance music performances, food trucks, and summer activities.
• Summer Rap Festival Winnipeg's end-of-summer hip-hop festival featuring performances by NAV, DaBaby, Roy Woods, and Casper TNG, with food vendors, VIP experiences, and festival activations.
• Multi-Tier Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship packages for events and venues at three tier levels (Presenting Partner, Supporting Partner, Community Partner), including naming rights, signage, marketing integration, and on-site presence.

Quantifiable outcome

• $25 million annual economic impact on Manitoba
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered primary, core and supporting.

• Canad InnsprimaryGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of Winter Wonderland holiday light show event. Also preferred hotel provider for Exhibition Park events. Has provided over $370,000 to Manitoba nonprofits over 25 years through this partnership.
• Kinsmen Club of WinnipegcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides three annual bursaries through Red River Exhibition Foundation for trades, community leadership, and Creative Communications students. Sponsors Photo Stop area at Winter Wonderland and Pumpkin Patch Stage at Witchy Wonderland.
• Prairieland Windows & DoorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Hutterite Manufacturing & Associate Expo along with RREA. Manages vendor recruitment and exhibitor coordination for the annual event.
• W. Garfield Weston Foundation / Real Canadian SuperstoresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDonors supporting three business scholarships awarded annually through Red River Exhibition Foundation for Manitoba students in business-related programs.
• Battlefield Equipment RentalssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLight Display Sponsor for Winter Wonderland, supporting iconic displays including Tunnel of Hearts, Old Man Winter, and 80ft Christmas Tree.
• Toro494 Security & Event ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFurry Friends Fridays sponsor for Winter Wonderland, enabling pet photo opportunities with festive characters.
• Tourism Industry Association of WinnipegsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer donor contributing to tourism scholarships for Manitoba students pursuing hospitality or tourism diploma programs.
• Festival Early Learning Child Care CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRREA oversees child care services at Exhibition Park, Morgan Crescent, and Buchanan Boulevard locations as part of its business divisions.
• Festival HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRREA oversees Festival Holdings as one of its business divisions and partnerships, supporting diversified operations.
• North American Midway Entertainment (NAME)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party midway entertainment provider for The EX, handling all ride, game, and food truck staffing for the annual fair.
• Kapala TattoosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizer of Winnipeg Tattoo Convention event held at Exhibition Place.
• Sound RepublicsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizer of Summer Rap Festival event hosted at Exhibition Park.
• Haus of Panda & Rave RevivalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizers of Speed World EDM event at Exhibition Park featuring car show and electronic music.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Peers

• Prairieland Park (Saskatoon):

Direct peers

• Canadian National Exhibition (CNE): The CNE is Toronto's end-of-summer fair and one of Canada's largest annual exhibitions. It operates Exhibition Place as a multi-venue, year-round event complex and directly parallels RREA's mix of annual fair + year-round venue rentals + third-party events.
• Pacific National Exhibition (PNE): PNE is Vancouver's annual fair and a year-round venue operator (Hastings Park) with Playland amusement rides, trade shows, concerts, and community events. Its community non-profit governance and multi-venue model mirror RREA's structure.
• Edmonton K-Days: K-Days is Edmonton's flagship summer exhibition and fair operated by Explore Edmonton at the Expo Centre/Edmonton EXPO Centre. It runs an annual fair, harness racing, winter programming, and a multi-venue complex comparable to RREA's Exhibition Park.
• Calgary Stampede: Calgary Stampede is Canada's largest annual fair/exhibition with a similar community-based, multi-venue event model. Like RREA, it operates a year-round venue (Stampede Park) and runs a signature annual fair plus numerous partner-hosted events, and is similarly non-profit and community-driven.
• Western Fair District: Western Fair District in London, Ontario operates a year-round multi-venue complex (raceway, Agriplex, sports centre, event halls) hosting the Western Fair and ongoing events. Its racetrack + fair + venue rental combination closely mirrors RREA's The LOOP + The EX + Exhibition Place model.

Regional players

• Queen City Ex (Regina): Queen City Ex is Saskatchewan's largest annual fair held at Evraz Place in Regina, with similar midway, agricultural showcase, and entertainment components. While serving a different province, its scope and seasonal community-fair positioning are highly comparable to The EX.
• Assiniboine Park Conservancy: Assiniboine Park Conservancy operates Assiniboine Park and The Forks in Winnipeg, including the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Leaf Conservatory, and year-round event programming. It is a competing Winnipeg-based leisure and event venue operator for families and tourists.
• Keystone Centre (Brandon): Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba is a major multi-use facility complex (arena, agricultural exhibition, convention space) and home to the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame gallery, which RREA also operates. It is a competing Manitoba venue for large-scale exhibitions, trade shows, and events.
• Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition (Morris): Manitoba Stampede is a Manitoba-based agricultural society running the Morris Stampede rodeo/agricultural exhibition. It overlaps with RREA's agricultural exhibition and equestrian event programming within the same province.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheLoopAtRedRiverEx/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/exhibitionpark
• Instagraminstagram.com/rrexhibitionpark
• TikToktiktok.com/@redriverex?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redriverex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red River Exhibition Association