PROVIDENCE BAY—The Providence Bay Fair is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year with the theme “A Family Fair Tradition.”
“We figured that since the fair is 140 this year that to celebrate this we would have some new events and activities and bring back some of the old favourites,” stated Dawn Dawson, a member of the agricultural society board. “This year visitors will see even a lot more family-oriented events taking place than usual.”
“There will be a family bubble gum blowing contest held, being sponsored by Home Hardware,” said Ms. Dawson. “We will also have a family passport program, where families can visit the agricultural fair booth and register for a passport that will be stamped at events the passport holder attends.” She pointed out there will be prizes as well for those who attend the most events.
“Another new event that we are bringing back which has already received fabulous response is Manitoulin’s Top Chicken contest,” stated Ms. Dawson. The event is being sponsored by the Agro-Mart in Gordon/Barrie Island. “People have already submitted pictures of their hens and roosters along with their biographies, and the winners will be selected through online voting taking place. The announcement of the winners will take place at the opening ceremonies of the fair Friday night,” said Ms. Dawson.
“We have had at least 12 hens and 12 roosters entered into the contest,” said Ms. Dawson. “And we’ve made a calendar. The Manitoulin Chicken calendars will be available during the fair. One of the things we wanted to do a little more this year was to try to build up agricultural awareness.”
“We are bringing back the Farm Olympics, which are being sponsored by Sharpe Farm Supplies,” stated Ms. Dawson. “We will have community celebrities Dale Scott and Adam Smith as masters of ceremonies for the event.”
The Farm Olympics will include various farm-related events for all ages, taking place in the horse ring on Sunday afternoon.
“And being brought back due to popular demand is the cow patty bingo, which will take place Sunday afternoon,” said Ms. Dawson. She pointed out it has been close to 25 years since the fair has held the farm Olympics and the cow patty bingo events at the fair.
One of the many other highlights of the fair that always gets a lot of attention is the midway. “We had a downsized version of the midway last year, but this year we will have a full midway,” said Ms. Dawson.
“With this year’s fair theme being ‘A Family Fair Tradition’ we are asking people to use this theme in their haybale contest structures and floats in the parade and encourage them to sneak the theme in wherever they can,” said Ms. Dawson.
All weekend long there will be food booths for visitors to enjoy, displays and vendor booths, the kids’ zone, midway by Gable Concessions, pony rides, an incredible display of baking, arts and crafts, needlework, quilts, grain, fruits and vegetables, junior exhibits, woodworking, photography and more in the exhibit hall.
On Friday, the gates will open at 5:30 pm, with the midway by Gable Concessions Inc, the kids’ zone (bale maze, farm toys, corn table, rubber duck racing, a baby area and Glendale Pony rides on hand). There will be vendors both outside and inside the arena all weekend.
Musical entertainment will be provided Friday evening by The Islanders, and the exhibit hall will be open to the public. The opening ceremonies will also take place with welcome speeches and special award presentations being made.
Also Friday evening will be the Fair Ambassador competition, pie eating contest and Family Feud competition.
Saturdays many activities will include a pancake breakfast being put on at the Providence Bay hall by the Providence Bay-Spring Bay Lions Club, the exhibit hall will again be open to the public, and the always popular parade. There will also be a quilting demonstration, judging of livestock, Glendale pony rides, a soap box derby along Mutchmor Street, face painting by Olivia, the Game on Express Gaming Trailer and Axe throwing. The kids’ zone will be open, and the Sudbury and District Pipe Band will be providing musical entertainment. There will also be 4-H sheep showmanship event and the Manitoulin Secondary School Robotics team will be putting on demonstrations.
As well during the afternoon events, musical entertainment will be provided by Toe Jam Tequila, a heavy draft horse pull will be held, as well as children’s races and games and the kids’ bubble gum blowing contest.
Saturday evening will feature the ‘Manitoulin’s Got Talent’ show in the arena.
There will also be a lot of activities and events taking place on Sunday. Gates open at 9 am, and the exhibit hall will again be open to the public. There will be a light horse show taking place, a quilting demonstration at the Community of Christ Church, where visitors will be able to see how a quilt is made and give it a try. The midway will be on as will Glendale Pony Rides, the Game on Express Gaming Trailer and Axe Throwing, MSS Robotics team demonstrations, and face painting by Olivia.
The Farm Olympics will take place early afternoon, along with the Cow Patty Bingo. Musical entertainment will feature the Singin’ Cowgirl Naomi Bristow, and the Farm Olympics will be held.
See the centre-page spread on Pages 18 and 19 of this week’s edition or go online at providencebayfair.com for all the details and a schedule of all the events.
