Mother Nature looks to be cooperating for this year’s Wilberforce Fair, scheduled for Aug. 9 ad 10 at the fairgrounds.
That news is welcomed by directors Nicole Billings, Nancy Duff, Sherri Klapow and Sydney Little – as well as by the Wilberforce Agricultural Society and its fair board officers, chair Larry Durand, co-chair Michele Little, secretary Nancy Durand, and treasurer Joanne Vanier – who recalled an epic flood on the Saturday last year that went down in history.
“Even our longest standing directors cannot recall a year where we had to quickly decide to close our gates and concentrate on ensuring the safety of our vendors and guests,” they recalled in this year’s booklet.
“The deluge lasted an hour … but most of our vendors had packed up and the tented areas were under three inches of water.” However, the indoor penny raffle and homecraft exhibits were busier than normal, “and provided everyone with hope and optimism.”
They recalled how The Wild Life petting zoo and pony rides endured the rain, as did Gord Kidd and Friends, who had fun with rain-related songs.
The forecast for the 41st fair is a mix of sun and cloud and temperatures between 23-26C. No rain. The directors said, “we look forward to bringing locals and visitors back again. We’ve invited new and regular vendors to return as well. Our popular homecraft competition is prepared to show off both children and adult displays of creativity.
“The children’s pet show will return on Friday night so get your fur babies ready to be the star. The kids always enjoy Kids World for crafts, hair and face painting, or spending time in the game zone playing big versions of Jenga, Match 4 and more. The petting zoo and horse and pony pulls will be bigger than ever.”
Friday night features ball hockey from 5-9 p.m. at the tennis courts (bring your own sticks and balls), the petting zoo from 5 p.m. and pedal tractor obstacle starting at 5:30 p.m. Registration for the pet show is 6 p.m., with judging at 6:30 p.m. This is a fun one with prizes awarded for waggiest tail, pet-owner look alike, fluffiest, pet the judge would most like to take home, best groomed, twitchiest nose for rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs, most adorable pose, most colourful coat, best trick and best costume. The pony pull begins at 7 p.m.
Gord Kidd and Friends are back Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, and then again from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The pedal tractor pull goes Aug. 10, with the pull starting at 11 a.m.
Saturday is full of events, kicking off at 9 a.m. and concluding with a family dinner at the Lloyd Watson Centre at 5 p.m. Some of the featured offerings include: a painting demonstration with Luanne Coghlan, scarecrow building contest, nail driving contest, sheep shearing demonstrations, penny raffle and sweet auction. See wilberforcefair.com for more information and a schedule of events.
