PROVIDENCE BAY—Gone are the days when the midway was the only focus of family fun during the Providence Bay Fair Days, Friday August 15 to 17, but don’t worry, Albion Amusements and the Glendale Petting Zoo and Pony Rides will be there, it is just that there is so very much more for all of the family as well.
When asked what excited her the most about this year’s Prov Fair, organizer Dawn Dawson didn’t hesitate for a moment. “There are a lot more family-oriented events going on this year.”
Among the more intriguing of those new events is the large inflatable duck that will serve as the central focus of the children’s educational group Elephant Thoughts. “We have a migratory bird display,” said Ms. Dawson. “It is big, inflatable and you can follow the digestive tract, it’s totally new.”
Another innovative attraction at this year’s fair will be the Vogeljoy animated musical family show. “We have been trying to get them for a couple of years now,” she said. “They have just come back from a trip to Africa.”
Vogeljoy will be performing twice on Saturday and once on Sunday. “They are also playing on the Chi-Cheemaun’s 3:20 sailing on Friday afternoon,” she said. Another musical entertainment event at this year’s fair will be the performance of the Campfire Country Band. “We have been trying to get the Campfire Country Band for quite a while too,” said Ms. Dawson. “They were a big hit at the International Plowing Match last year. We were finally able to book them.”
The exhibit halls will open at 7 pm and the most anticipated decision of the weekend will take place at 8 pm, with the naming of this year’s Fair Ambassador with six contestants in the running.
Of course the heart and soul of an agricultural fair are the exhibit halls featuring the best offerings of rural life. There will be pie eating contests, a pancake breakfast at the United Church and, wait for it, the parade! This year’s theme is ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Fair.’ Elephant Thoughts will be set up with the Grain Discovery Exhibit Trailer following the parade. While Vogeljoy is performing, the 4-H Club judging of livestock will be taking place, with cattle, horse, pig, sheep and poultry categories among others. The children’s races start at 2 pm and face painting will be in full swing by then.
The heavy draft horse pull will start at 3 pm and the evening will see the popular Manitoulin Idol contest starting up at 8 pm.
Sunday start your engines early as the registration for the motocross races starts at 6:30 am and the races themselves, sanctioned by the Canadian Motorcycle Racing Corporation, will start at 10 am.
Drop by the grounds on noon on Sunday for Animal Patty Bingo, the light horse show, turtle races (bring your own turtle), the quilt raffle and the Manitoulin Idol first place winners.
A full day admission to the grounds will cost $10 for adults, $5 for those aged six to 12 and children five and under free. If you are only looking to pop in from 4 to 10 pm, adults are $5, children six to 12 are $2 and children 5 years and under are free. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Island Time ice cream stand at the Providence Bay beach.
