Peachland fair organizers thinking ahead to autumn

Snow is still covering many gardens, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the Peachland Fall Fair.

This year will mark the 100th Peachland Fall Fair, which began Oct. 9, 1919 when the fruit packing plant was right on Okanagan Lake. With the exception of being suspended for three years during the Second World War, the Peachland Fall Fair has been a growing concern ever since with some 1,800 entries last year. While focusing on the community’s agricultural roots, the Fall Fair offers categories including painting, leatherwork, photography and computer art.

“Whatever you’re interested in, there’s a category for it,” said Martha Jenkins, who has been president of the Peachland Fall Fair for seven years after getting involved with the event in 1989.

Jenkins is planning for a big year with centennial fall fair pins, a photo display from previous fall fairs and a corn roast.

She will be increasing the number of fall fair booklets to 1,000 and adding colouring pages for children to complete and enter into the fall fair.

“We’re going to knock their socks off this year,” she said.

Jenkins is hoping the fair’s centennial will attract several heirloom original entries, a non-judged category to showcase beautiful old works from the past. One of the reasons for the continued success of Peachland’s Fall Fair is the friendly competition amongst neighbours and family.

“We want the bragging rights for the best peach pie in Peachland or the biggest zucchini or pumpkin,” said Barb McGregor, a director with the Peachland Fall Fair.

Along with bragging rights, winners receive ribbons and, in some cases, small cash prizes and trophies. The fair offers a number of impressive trophies for exhibitors with the highest aggregate points.

Winners have their name engraved on the trophy and take home a medal. McGregor, who has been involved with the fall fair since 1983, said baking continues to be a popular category, as does jams and jellies. Entries in the vegetable category have been dwindling as McGregor said it seems many of the community’s gardeners are moving into condos.

The fair offers junior categories including container gardening to inspire the next generation.

For McGregor, the best part of the fair is seeing people gather, both to exhibit and support the event.

Another reason for the Peachland Fall Fair’s longevity, McGregor said, is the strong support the event receives from West Kelowna including the Paynters and Barb Heaney from Westbank who are fierce competitors, as well as businesses.

The governor general of Canada opened the Peachland Fall Fair a century ago and Wayne Power, the vice-president of the fair, is hoping Julie Payette, the current governor general, or one of her representatives will accept an invitation to come to this year’s event.

The 100th Peachland Fall Fair, Pride in our Past, Faith in Our Future, takes place Sept. 7-8 at the Peachland Community Centre.

For more information, go online to peachlandfallfair.ca.