Remembering Playland's lost rides as the PNE Fair opens
The PNE Fair opens in Vancouver on August 22, 2026, for its 116th edition—and Playland, the city's only theme park, looks very different than it did a decade ago. Rides like the Corkscrew, Music Express, and The Revelation are gone, retired to make room for ThunderVolt, Atmosfear, and this year's fair-only additions Himalaya and Zero Gravity.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 PNE Fair runs August 22 through September 7, marking the event's 116th edition at Hastings Park.
- Playland has retired several iconic rides since 2019, including the Corkscrew, Music Express, Crazy Beach Party, The Revelation, and The Drop Zone.
- ThunderVolt, Atmosfear, and The Beast represent the park's newer generation of thrills, while classics like the Wooden Roller Coaster and Pirate Ship remain.
- Opening weekend features the British Columbia Military Tattoo, an NFL Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy display, and SuperDogs' 50th anniversary.
- Fair-only rides Himalaya and Zero Gravity join the Playland lineup for the 17-day event.
Which Playland rides has Vancouver lost in recent years?
The historic PNE Fair has run for well over a century, but Playland's skyline keeps shifting. The Corkscrew coaster closed in 2019—it later appeared in the 2006 film Final Destination 3. Millennials and Gen Z visitors may still mourn the Music Express and Crazy Beach Party, both forcibly retired in 2022.
The Revelation and The Drop Zone—premium rides that cost extra beyond a rides pass—shut down in 2023 to clear space for ThunderVolt. Older generations recall the Wild Mouse, a joint-rattling favourite whose near-miss reputation still circulates on Vancouver nostalgia forums, and the Jet Star II, a 1980s coaster gone since the 1990s.
Even the park's wooden coaster earned Hollywood cred: a scene from the 1990s thriller Fear, starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon, was filmed on the iconic track.
What is still running at Playland today?
Not everything is nostalgia. Long-standing favourites—the Enterprise, the Pirate Ship, and the Wooden Roller Coaster, recently upgraded—still spin and swing. Newer thrill rides include Atmosfear, which lifts riders 218 feet while spinning 360 degrees at 70 km/h, and The Beast, described as reminiscent of the retired Crazy Beach Party.
Those shared rituals—annual fair food, mini donuts, and screaming through a coaster line—mirror how communities preserve wellbeing through tradition, a theme we explore in our Longevity & Biohacking coverage of habits that outlast trends.
What's new at the 2026 PNE Fair?
The 17-day fair welcomes several opening-weekend headliners. The British Columbia Military Tattoo performs, visitors can view the NFL Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy up close, and the SuperDogs mark 50 years of shows. Playland's website lists Himalaya—visually similar to the retired Music Express—and Zero Gravity as additions during the fair run.
A media preview on August 20 showcased military bands, SuperDogs trainers, and costumed figure skaters ahead of the public opening, according to Xinhua.
When and where does the 2026 PNE Fair take place?
The Pacific National Exhibition Fair runs from August 22 to September 7, 2026, at Playland within Hastings Park in Vancouver. As Daily Hive notes, parking change and stomach-ready fare remain part of the ritual as the city prepares for another summer run.