ERIN – This year’s Erin Fall Fair is slated for Oct. 9 to 13 at the Erin fair grounds on Main Street with the theme “Best in Show” to celebrate 175 years.
“It’s kind of to remember … the ones that had their best animals at the show or best craft, anything like that,” said fair manager Joanne Gregson.
In honour of 175 years, the fair will include a heritage tent, featuring past fair memorabilia.
“Some is from the fair, some is actually from the community itself. So that should be a good display,” said Gregson.
Oct. 9
Festivities will kick off next Thursday at 5pm with a toonie special, meaning all fair admission tickets will be $2.
The midway will run from 5 to 11pm. Ride tickets cost $9 for four. The exhibit hall will open at 6pm and close at 9pm.
Oct. 10
Gates will open at 4pm on Friday with a tractor pull beginning at 6pm.
The official opening of the fair will take place inside the exhibit hall at 6:30pm, followed by the ambassador competition.
The midway will be open from 7 to 11pm and will offer an unlimited ride bracelet for $45.
Oct. 11
On Saturday things really kick into gear, with gates and exhibit hall opening at 9am.
The miniature horse and pony show, hunter/jumper show and vintage tractor show will also start at 9am.
“Our livestock shows are always popular for people,” said Gregson.
The midway will be offering free rides from 10 to 11am as a special treat.
The jersey cattle show and the goat show are slated for 10am as is Magic Mel the magician.
The baby show and the kids pedal pull commence at 11:30am at the hall, followed by Magic Mel’s second show and a Speaking of Wildlife demonstration.
The horse pull will begin at 12:30pm at the track, followed by the Little 4-Hers Little Royal show in the show barn.
This year’s fair will not feature a heavy horse show due to lack of participants.
Magic Mel, Speaking of Wildlife and instrumentalists Anna and Mika will perform between 2 and 4pm.
The truck pull and line dancing will commence at 5pm, followed by live music by The Good Brothers inside the hall and Off The Rock in the festival gardens at 7pm.
Oct. 12
On Sunday gates open at 8:30am, coinciding with the Welsh ponies horse show.
“We are moving the Welsh pony show … to the upper ring,” said Gregson.
The exhibit hall opens at 9am as does the registration beef show in the show barn.
The sheep show and beef peewee showmanship events kick off at 9:30am, followed by the Erin 4-H beef achievement and all beef breeds show at 10am.
The midway will again offer free rides from 10 to 11am. New this year, the power wheels demo derby and the figure-eight and demo cross events will take place at 12pm at the track.
Ambassador cake decorating and the birds of prey show will take place at 12pm, followed by the 4-H beef inter-club show and ambassador cake auction.
The fair will offer lots of children’s entertainment, dancing opportunities and live music from 2 to 5pm, including farmer and kids’ Olympics at 4pm.
The lawn and garden tractor pull will commence at 5:30pm, followed by the mini-modified tractor pull.
The party really gets started at 7pm with live music from Wendy Lynn Snyder and an AC/DC tribute band.
Oct. 13
To keep the fun alive, the fair grounds will open at 9:30am on Monday with the open horse show and the rabbit and cavy show kicking off the morning.
New this year, the power wheels demo, the Ontario demolition derby and the combine demo will take place at 12pm on the track.
Live music and children’s entertainment runs from 1 to 4pm.
The home craft awards presentation will take place at 4pm outside the exhibit hall followed, by the 50/50 lottery draw.
The fairgrounds will close at 4:30pm.
For more information visit erinfair.com.
