It’s the time of year when families from across the Rainy River District head down to Emo to take in all the sights and sounds of the Rainy River Agricultural Society Fall Fair.
Newcomers, and lapsed fans of what’s popularly called the Emo Fair, however, might be wondering what the big deal is.
For more than 100 years an agricultural fair has taken place in the Township of Emo, inviting residents and visitors from around the region to come together and celebrate the nearing end of another summer. Livestock and produce are put on display, plenty of events capture audiences’ attention, and rides and game are set up on the grounds to the delight of visitors young and old.
This year, the Emo Fair runs from Thursday, August 13 through Saturday, August 15, with gates generally opening at 8 a.m. each morning and closing up at midnight.
For someone who has never been, the days might seem overwhelming. For old fans who haven’t been in some time, it might be hard to remember where to go and what to do. In an effort to ensure that everyone can have a great time at the Emo Fair, read on to get a rundown on many of the offerings available to those attending the fair this year, as well as insider tips on where to be sure to go and what you definitely need to see.
Attending the Emo Fair
The first thing to know about the Emo Fair is where to go. Once you’re in Emo, head down to the Fairgrounds, located along the Municipality’s Colonization Road, where you will find the Emo Speedway, Emo-LaVallee Community Centre, and the Emo Fairgrounds. Parking can be hectic, but be sure to find a location where it is permissible, and avoid parking in neighbourhood driveways or other nearby business lots. There is no parking on Byng Street in either direction this year, and the abattoir reminds the public that their parking is reserved for abattoir members and supporters.
Once parked, and depending on the day, you will need to pay an admission fee. This year, like in years past, Thursday has no gate admission, meaning you can get into the fair free of charge (though note this does not mean you can access the midway free of charge). To get into the fair on Friday and Saturday, admission is $5 per person, with kids 5 and under getting in free!
4-H Cattle
There are dozens of different categories that youth can take part in when it comes to the 4-H Clubs, but without a doubt, some of the most popular in the district are the cattle clubs. These clubs invite youth to come together and learn what it takes to raise, show, and eventually sell a bovine. Throughout the year, these clubs offer those interested a place where they can learn from experienced farmers and veterinarians all about caring for their animal, and then give them the opportunity to go hands on.
At the Emo Fair, the results of these months of hard work are put on display. 4-H participants bring their animals to the cattle barns, spending the days cleaning them, leading them on halters around a ring, and keeping them in tip-top shape for the annual 4-H Show. Each participant and animal is graded on a number of different factors, including how well they and their animal work together, earning recognition for their efforts, and tips for making an even better presentation the next year. Finally, the judge will make the call and crown the Grand Champion Steer or Heifer, a prestigious designation that always draws a crowd.
(For those not in the know, or who have always been curious, a steer is a male bovine who has been castrated where a bull is an intact animal, while a heifer is a female bovine who has not had a calf yet, as opposed to a cow).
There are plenty of opportunities to head down to the Fair Grounds this week to check out the 4-H animals, as the steers are weighed on Friday night at 6 p.m., and the judging begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, with everything leading up to the Annual 4-H Cattle Auction at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Midway
The midway is yet another beloved attraction of the Emo Fair!
Brought to town by Select Shows, the midway has all the sights, sounds and smells you can hope for of a fair, with all kinds of exciting carnival-style rides for all ages, and a number of skill testing game booths that offer everyone the chance to go home with some serious swag. Before you leave, make sure you also swing by a booth for lemonade, mini doughnuts and more midway snacks.
The midway is set up at the Emo Fair and open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a number of locations on the fairgrounds for purchasing tickets and wristbands for rides.
If you’re looking to save a bit of money, advanced tickets for the midway are also available now at retailers across the district. The advanced tickets are #35 each, which brings you a saving of $10 per ticket, and can be purchased at in Emo at Tompkins Hardware and Cloverleaf Grocery, in Fort Frances at Wilson’s and Fort Frances General Supply, in Rainy River at Beaver Mills Market, and at Helliar’s Resort in Nestor Falls.
The midway opens up for fun at 2 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, and at noon on both Friday and Saturday, with rides winding down each night at midnight.
Exhibition Hall
The Exhibition Hall is one of the pride and joys of Emo and the Emo Fair. A longstanding edifice that commands attention in the centre of the Fairgrounds, the Exhibition Hall is where people from across the Rainy River District go to see some of the best produce, arts and crafts the region has to offer.
Entrants to the Exhibition Hall can submit items into dozens, if not hundreds of different categories, from impressively ground produce like carrots and beets, to beautiful handmade quilts, perfectly composed photos, and even the best Lego build they’ve ever done.
In order to become an exhibitor at the hall, participants must first be a member of the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society. Once a member, they are then eligible to submit items in a variety of different categories for judging. Each item submitted to a category is dropped off on Tuesday or Wednesday, and then judging takes place all day Thursday. Once judging is completed, every item receives a ribbon, with the top placing items in some categories eligible for cash prizes as well, and the items remain in the hall for the public to see and appreciate through the rest of the fair.
The Exhibition Hall is also the home to the Rainy River Honey Competition, where the best jars of the district’s honey go head to head, are crowned and then auctioned off during the 4-H Steer Auction to help keep the honey competition going in years to come.
Be sure to stop by the produce section and check out the year’s best beetroot!
And the rest!
Did you know that there are local vendors aplenty to check out at the Fair? Or what about the annual horse shows and stock car races? Do you want to stop by and have a bite to eat while supporting local organizations and small businesses? Maybe cute little animals are more your speed and you want to spend a few hours in the small animal barn? Or, heck, you might just be looking for some entertainment, at which point, swing on down and watch the Logger’s Competition or see local band Thinking of Pinky.
While we try to cover a number of things on the go at the Emo Fair, but at the end of the day, we simply can’t tell you everything going on this week. Be sure to check out the major attractions on offer at the Rainy River Agricultural Society Fall Fair like the ones mentioned above, but once you have, do some exploring on your own and find your new favourite Emo Fair stop and turn it into your annual Emo Fair tradition. We promise, with so much to see and do at the Emo Fair, you won’t be disappointed.
