Three Squamish youth will try to sing, dance or fiddle their way into $10,000 at this year's Red Robinson Talent Showdown at the PNE.
Two local semi-finalists, fiddler Jocelyn Pettit, who performs with the Jocelyn Trio, and dancer Nicole Leisher, will compete in the Kids Talent Division at the show, which runs Aug. 18 to Sept. 3. They'll be joined on stage by vocalist Shannon Peek, who'll compete in the youth division.
Seventeen-year-old Peek can be heard singing O Canada at Squamish Cougars games and will perform Jesus Take The Wheel during her set, and she said she is looking forward to the experience.
"I'm really excited," said Peek. "I've been in talent shows before but this is my first really big show in front of a huge audience."
The first performances for Peek and the other local semifinalists will be between Aug. 18 and Aug. 22, with the top first round performers moving on.
They won't be the only Sea to Sky Corridor representatives, with Lions Bay singers Madison Mailey and Sharon All also qualifying.
The talented youngsters qualified after submitted videotapes of their performances were selected from among thousands of submissions from around the province.
"We are very excited about the new Red Robinson Talent Showdown at this year's Fair at the PNE," said Patrick Roberge, PNE Creative Director. "Not only do we have one of Canada's entertainment icons hosting the event, but we have a very strong group of semi-finalists who promise to make picking a winner a tough challenge for the judges."
This will be the first time the competition has invited semi-finalist to perform at the fair, with radio-legend Robinson hosting every performance.
The final is all ages, letting even younger competitors get a shot the grand prize.
Robinson has long used the PNE to showcase new talent, beginning in 1957 when he hosted the exhibition's first Battle of the Bands, then Esso Talent Search, which was featured on CBC television.
The talent search has discovered a number of successful artists, including singer Michael Bublé.
