For nearly 50 years, fairs in Surrey were hosted in each individual community. Cloverdale gradually became more accessible to tourists after the Pacific Highway was established in 1923 and the Pattullo Bridge was opened in 1937. Surrey residents desired to expand and merge their fairs in order to attract visitors from outside the town. For a long time, the Langley and Surrey fall fairs contemplated merging, but they never did since they each wanted to be held in their respective hometowns. This was frustrating for Surrey residents because combining multiple regions would increase the likelihood of the fair being able to run because it would be easier to access grants and funding from the government to host such an event. This was due to the fact that the Fall Fairs were becoming increasingly expensive throughout the 1930s.
It was eventually decided that the communities of Surrey would merge their fall fairs and construct new fairgrounds to form a new regional `fall fair. The grounds on which the Cloverdale rodeo now takes place are the same ones that were erected for the new fall fair in 1938. The community undertook a major task in building these new fairgrounds. The expenses reached 3,000 dollars, which equates to approximately 50,000-60,000 dollars in today’s Canadian currency. One of the most stunning successes was the relocation of the old municipal surrey hall to the new fairgrounds. The expanded grounds also include a new half-mile track and grandstand, allowing spectators to view both athletic events and parades. The fairgrounds were heralded as the city’s new heart, a symbol of the community’s vitality and optimism for the future. The new fair was held on the 23rd and 24th of September 1938, and it was the first time Surrey had hosted a two-day exhibition. First Aid Classes, Highland dancing, Sheepdog trials, a parade, school sports, and horse racing were among the events held that weekend. They not only offered novel and entertaining activities, but they also hosted traditional agricultural fair events such as competitions in vegetables, cattle, quilting, flower displays, and more.
The total number of participants in the festivities that weekend was in the thousands. Although the entire value of all awards given out is unknown, prize lists reveal that it was easily in the hundreds. That alone indicates how the community pulled together for this event. Locals would have donated a substantial portion of the awards, which would have been products and services. However, the weekend was somewhat dampened in classic British Columbia manner when it rained or, as reported, down poured on Saturday morning, decreasing overall public turnout. However, the citizens’ enthusiasm was not diminished, as the rest of the event went ahead without a hitch, laying the framework for future fairs to be held there. This event was the predecessor to the Cloverdale Rodeo, which is today Canada’s second-largest rodeo and the event for which Cloverdale is best known.