Future looking brighter
Old Home Week had ‘good crowds and positive feedback’
The future of Old Home Week appears to be looking as bright as the midway lit up after dark.
Sandra Hodder Acorn, manager of Old Home Week, said she saw good crowds and received positive feedback from Islanders and visitors throughout the 10-day exhibition. The successful year came after a period in the spring where it was unclear whether or not the 129-year-long tradition would even continue.
“We had a bit of a rocky start, but we’ve come together and Old Home Week only works a group. And we’ve worked together to put on the best experience we can for Islanders and visitors alike,” said Hodder Acorn, noting that the final attendance for this year won’t be known for a couple of weeks. Back in April, The Old Home Week board was notified its access to the Red Shores parking lot for the midway would be reduced by 15 per cent in 2017 with no guarantee of getting the space back in 2018.
The board voted to suspend the event until getting an assurance the space would be restored next year.
The board, Red Shores and harness racing representatives are now working together on a governance model to oversee the entire event.
“The plan is put in place and we’ll be working on (the governance model) for the next few months and then go from there. The future looks bright,” said Hodder Acorn.
The exhibition kept crowds at the EastLink Centre and Red Shores Racetrack and Casino in Charlottetown with livestock, agricultural display and competitions, as well as the midway and harness racing. While the Gold Cup and Saucer race is the big finale, Red Shores racing manager, Adam Walsh, said the entire schedule showcased horses, owners and trainers from across Canada and the U.S.
The event saw one of its largest crowds in history for the World Driving Championship on Friday night.
“We had an absolutely amazing crowd come out to see our own P.E.I. native James MacDonald win the World Driving Championship here on his own turf,” said Walsh. “The whole week has been absolutely fantastic.”
Hodder Acorn, who is in her second year as Old Home Week manager, said it’s an honour to be part of the organization.
“It’s quite nostalgic. I was walking down to the barn the other evening thinking ‘oh my gosh, I came here every year as a child with my dad, then I took my kids here every year since they were born,”’ she said. “To actually be helping run such an event on P.E.I., one of the bigger agricultural fairs in the Maritimes, it’s quite an honour for me.”