Although it is a 108-year-old event, the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society has made every effort to make this year’s edition fair, modern, and inviting.
Something brand new this year will be “Fair Passports,” which will be available free to everyone who attends this year’s fair.
The passport will have several tickets attached to it. By visiting designated sites listed on the passport, and by depositing the proper ticket in the site’s container, each visitor will be eligible to win a prize.
Another new attraction this year, sure to be popular with the kids, will be the OPP bike rodeo at the Cloverleaf parking lot.
Youngsters are invited to bring their bikes for an inspection, to learn how to ride properly, and to learn bike safety.
Fair board president Emily Watson is excited about this year’s fair, noting the board has met every month since last September in order to plan this year’s festivities.
“It’s going to be great!” she promised.
Their new website (www.twspemo.on.ca/rrvas/index.html) outlines all the events and attractions for the fall fair, which runs until Aug. 16. If you still are in need of a fair book, it can be downloaded at their site.
“The dance is back and it’s going to be a lot of fun for the whole family!” enthused Watson.
A local group called “Nighthawk” will perform on Friday and Saturday evenings upstairs in the arena. These will be family events and no alcohol will be served, so everyone is welcome.
“Bring grandpa and grandma and the kids, too!” encouraged Watson. “Nighthawk is a very versatile group, they can play just about anything.”
Meanwhile, stock car races, a well-loved part of the fall fair, will run both Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $4 for children aged six-12 years, and $25 for a family pack.
Hot laps start at 6 p.m., with the first race at 6:30 both nights.
For more information, visit the Borderland Racing Association’s website at www.borderlandracing.com
The Borderland Racing Association also will be sponsoring its sixth-annual pancake breakfast on Friday from 7-10 a.m. in front of the grandstand.
Come out and enjoy a great breakfast of pancakes and sausages, along with coffee or juice, served up by the association members.
All of your other favourite events also will be back again this year. The 4-H Club always has been a big part of the fall fair, offering youths aged 10-21 a chance to show off their achievements.
This could range from a loaf of bread to a scrapbook or beef or dairy cattle.
Make sure you visit their displays in the Exhibition Hall, which is located right beside the 4-H food booth.
Another big part of the fall fair, and a big part of 4-H here in Rainy River District, is the annual 4-H market steer auction, which will take place between the grandstand and 4-H barn on Saturday from 4-5:30 p.m.
And the annual loggers’ competition will get underway in front of the grandstand on Friday at 9:30 a.m. Come out and cheer for your favourite logger!
The Emo Fair Queen entertainment competition will take place tomorrow (Aug. 14) starting at 7 p.m. upstairs in the arena, followed by the crowning of this year’s winner.
Admission to this event is $2 or a fair queen button.
Meanwhile, the mini-queen and mini-king pageant will take place Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on the small stage just outside the grandstand. The judges will ask each contestant some questions.
The young contestants also will be part of this year’s parade, which gets underway Saturday at noon sharp in front of the Emo hospital.
The route will follow Front Street, then turn onto Queen Street, cross Highway 11/71, and end up passing in front of the grandstand at the fairgrounds.
And, of course, there will be midway rides and booths once again.
Advance midway tickets will be available at Tompkins Hardware, Village Variety, and Cloverleaf Shop East in Emo, Dev-Lynne’s in Devlin, the restaurants in Barwick and Stratton, as well as True Value Hardware and Marmus Shell in Rainy River.
In Fort Frances, advance tickets are available at Rainy Lake Sports and Wilson’s.
Advance tickets also will be available at the fair office tomorrow (Aug. 14) until 6 p.m.
The cost is $27, which entitles the bearer to free gate admission and unlimited rides on the midway (a savings of $5). Each ticket is good for one day only.
Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society members have spent countless hours planning for the 2008 fall fair. They are confident this year’s fair will have something for everyone.
Come out, visit with old friends, and help make this year’s fall fair the best ever!
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
