Last Chance Car Show to add to NRE coffers

A torrential downpour is often par for the course for organizers of the Niagara Regional Exhibition.

There have been a lot of rainy days during the 164 fairs that have come and gone, and this year’s was no exception.

But Niagara Regional Agricultural Society co-treasurer Art Gill said when the sun was shining this past weekend, the place was packed.

He said the fair set an attendance record on Friday afternoon of about 10,000 visitors during the tractor pull competitions.

“The grandstands have never seen that many people,” said Jane Thompson, who was hired on by the agricultural society to help organize the fair, after it was almost cancelled this year due to budget constraints.

Even when a rainstorm hit on Saturday, people still kept coming.

“It wouldn’t be the fair if it didn’t rain,” Thompson quipped.

With only a few weeks to organize the fair, it lacked several of the attractions that people look forward to such as midway rides.

Still, Thompson said people still enjoyed being there.

“It just seemed that everybody was happy because there was something going on,” she said.

Gill said many people told him that: “If you hadn’t have had it, you would have had a hard time next year to get it back.”

But with a $24,000 grant from the city, additional sponsorships, and support offered by Welland firefighters, Welland Hydro and others, Gill said they managed to keep the tradition alive.

Although Gill said the proceeds from the event are still being tallied up, he said organizers will have at least broken even.

Thompson said area restaurants were extremely busy on the weekend due to an influx of fairgoers.

Activities at the fairgrounds continue this Sunday when the Last Chance Car Show and Swap Meet returns for its 36th annual event.

Gill said organizers are expecting as many as 2,000 brightly polished vehicles for the show that runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The event, organized by the Sunset Cruisers as a fundraiser for the Tender Wishes Foundation, could include the largest number of participants yet for the annual car show, which previously brought in about 1,625 vehicles.

Gill said NRE representatives will be participating, too, selling items they’re pretty sure car show visitors will be interested in.

They’re vintage posters from past exhibitions, promoting the Hell Drivers demonstration, and Thompson said they are being sold to raise funds to help make next year’s fair even better.

In addition, she said NRE volunteers will be running a canteen, serving food and beverages to car show visitors.

“It’s one last chance to raise money for the fair,” she said.