The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival is back again starting Friday and with it all the rides, entertainment and deep fried foods that you can shake a deep fried Twinkie at. But also returning is just a truly awful promotion: Canada Day.
Now let me start by saying I enjoy the Date Fest and have no problem at all paying the $9 to get in. And I have no problem with promotions for the fair, as last year I got in for free by giving blood. The fair lets veterans and 3 guests in for free – which is an outstanding promotion that more festivals and attractions should honor. But why is Canada Day a thing that happens?
The last few years have seen Canada Day take place on one of the slower days of the festival (this year it is Tuesday, February 17th). On Canada Day, hosers Canadian residents are admitted into the Fair for FREE with proof of residency (valid passport, license or whatever the hell they use up their for ID, eh).
How nice for The Date Fest to offer these poor Canadians (with their 2 homes and free government healthcare) a free ticket to the festival – all while American citizens who actually live full time in the county that the fair is to celebrate pay full price.
And while America’s neighbors to the north get a free ride, what about our neighbors to the south? Well, don’t look for Mexico Day on the fair’s schedule, because it doesn’t exist.
So what gives? Why give these rich Canadians a free ride and screw over the locals? Back in 2012, Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit proclaimed, “From the beautiful weather to the wonderful activities that abound, the Coachella Valley has become an oasis for Canadians, Canada Day at the Fair is a special new attraction for the thousands of snowbirds who enjoy everything our area offers.”
So tourism? Somehow I just do not see too many Canadians calling home urging everyone they know to spend thousands of dollars to come to Indio to ride a ferris wheel for free. You know what brings Canadians to The Coachella Valley? The lack of ten feet of snow in the winter! And that alone is going to keep them coming back (mostly to inflate home prices and make driving on 111 hell).
Canada Day is just a dumb promotion that is nothing more than political pandering to foreigners – all while punishing locals. Make Canadians pay full price just like everyone else. God knows they can afford it.
