A longtime camping crew from Chestermere is celebrating a big win after taking home $31,605 from the Camrose Regional Exhibition 50/50 draw at Big Valley Jamboree 2026. Angela, whose surname was not released, bought the winning ticket with four family members on August 2, the final day of the festival, and the group is splitting the prize equally.
The five family members have been attending BVJ together for decades, wearing matching “BVJ Stumbles” hoodies. Two of them have been coming since the second year of the Jamboree, while the other three have attended for more than 25 years. They have watched their camping setup grow from two campsites to six over the years.
“Our camping group has grown from 2 campsites to 6 sites now,” Angela told the Camrose Regional Exhibition.
The Camrose Regional Exhibition runs the 50/50 draw each year at BVJ. The draw helps support the exhibition grounds, which host the festival and other community events throughout the year. Big Valley Jamboree has been held at the Camrose Regional Exhibition grounds since 1993, making 2026 its 34th edition.
For anyone who missed out this year, the CRE 50/50 will return for BVJ 2027. The festival runs annually over the August long weekend, drawing country music fans from across Western Canada.
