Fun in the sun at Ameliasburgh’s ‘colour me fall’ fair

Administrator | Sep 23, 2024 | Comments 0

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
This year’s Ameliasburgh fall fair showcased how rural country fairs remain rooted in agriculture, farming and community.

While a contingent of horses and young riders competed in various judged classes in the horse show, at the other end of the Roblin Lake Fairgrounds, the livestock show ran for most of the day with beef and dairy cattle in a variety of judged categories. Ribbons and trophies were handed out honouring impressive young handlers who in some cases were dwarfed beside giant, but gentle, beasts, yet all deftly controlled and corralled the herd at hand.

And for those still in need of a cute animal fix, the petting zoo had goats and bunnies, ducks and pigs and very cute chicks, all seemingly happy to be petted, held and in some cases, fed.

The “Colour Me Fall’ themed edition of the fair was put together by the Ameliasburgh Fair Board and kicked-off Saturday with a parade for those who wanted to get an early start on a full day of activities, games, music, vendors and exhibits.

The weather was as fine as can be (actually, better than fine) for a late-September event. The Reasons entertained a large gathering with their repertoire of ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s (maybe ‘80s too) classic rock tunes, and everything seemed right with the world for a few hours, as community came together and young families, friends and neighbours enjoyed a special day out in the sunshine.

The little ones were kept busy with face painting, twisted balloons in shapes (and colours) of their choosing, outdoor field games, and there was a scavenger hunt too.

The ‘hockey circus guy’ entertained a large crowd of every age it seemed, with his super-funny brand of humour and impressive knowledge of hockey teams and players. He delivered many a joke and amusing anecdote with his sporting brand of wit, not to mention his talented juggling skills, whether it be with hockey pucks or hockey sticks.

But it was the flaming hockey sticks, three of them, set alight, juggled mid-air, while standing atop a hockey goal net (wearing ice skates no less, but also in full hockey attire plus helmet), that wowed the audience as he undertook the somewhat difficult and dangerous stunt –made especially challenging with a breeze, something that always makes mid-air juggling and fire stunts extra difficult, he said.

Inside the buildings on-site were exhibits, crafts, vendors, a book sale, a craft show and a silent auction, and for those who were hungry (and judging by the long line-ups, many were), there were lots of choices for lunch, snacks and refreshments with many familiar food vendors.

There were many judged exhibits on display to view, from produce (fruit, vegetables and field crops) to flowers, but also home crafts (quilting, rug hooking, crochet, needlepoint and more) baking and preserves, photography, art and woodworking.

The floral section categories included fresh flower arrangements (dried flower arrangements too), potted plants and hanging plants.

The baking and preserves exhibited section included themes such as: eyes on the pies, your one true loaf, saucy business, take a whisk, rise and brine, this is my jam!, and muffin else compares, among the many.

Youth were not left out of the exhibits which included categories just them for them, for example, junior baking and crafts, floral, fruit, vegetables and field crops, as well as photography and art.

And the very youngest of them all, pre-school and junior kindergarten, were not excluded either, with categories of finger painting, paper bag puppet, egg carton caterpillar, that also included categories like self-portrait art, or a poem about fall.