Wainfleet Fall Fair to be packed with sights and sounds this weekend
Wainfleet celebrates its agricultural heritage this week with the 51st annual Wainfleet Fall Fair.
There will be plenty for residents and visitors to see and do, says Liz Aldrey.
The fair’s secretary says the threeday event starts Thursday with a 6 p.m. parade starting at St. Elizabeth School, just behind township hall.
After the parade, there’s an antique tractor pull at 6:30 p.m., with a cattle show at 7 p.m. and the Olde Tyme Fiddlers playing on stage inside the arena from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Admission to the fair is free, with donations being accepted, but the tractor pull will cost $5 for adults and $2 for elementary students. Fireworks start at 8:30 p.m. The fall fair started in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial project, Aldrey says. It was first called the Marshville Fair. Marshville was the original name for the township.
“The fair hadn’t existed in a long time and became a centennial (year) project to bring it back. They thought it would be a one-year project, but it’s continued since then.”
While for years aspects of the fair, such as its poultry and pet shows, were only open to Wainfleet residents, Aldrey says at least 90 to 95 per cent of it is now open to residents across Niagara.
Friday will see elementary schools tour the fairgrounds, with any school welcome to attend. Bouncy castles will keep the children entertained, as will a clown, face painting and a hand puppet show. Seniors will be admitted to the fair between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for $4. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students.
Admission to the modified tractor pull, which gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday, will cost $15 for adults and $5 for elementary students.
There’s also a lawn tractor pull behind the arena at the same time, and visitors can see who has the best pet rabbit at the 4H rabbit judging competition in the barns, also behind the arena.
Saturday, says Aldrey, is a big day at the fair with a horse show, ATV expo and mud bog, baby show, pancake breakfast, Iron Farmer competition, pumpkin carving, Wainfleet Idol competition and the demolition derby. Admission that day is $8 for adults and $5 for elementary students.
The Iron Farmer competition takes place on the ball diamond and features events such as fence building, tire flipping, roping and hay bale piling.
More information on the fair can be found at www.facebook.com/Wainfleet-Fair-443820685659649 or at sites.google.com/site/wainfleetfallfair.