Pandemic rules-friendly fall fair events set for this weekend in Alvinston
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An all-outdoor version of the Brooke-Alvinston and Watford Fall Fair will help volunteers of the weekend event accommodate public-health concerns, organizers say.
“It’s scaled down to meet health-unit rules,” said Jamie Armstrong, a past-president and director with the agricultural society in the eastern Lambton County community where the fall fair dates back to 1875. “We’ve got no inside events that are sanctioned by the fair board.”
Instead, there are activities outdoors starting Friday at the Brooke-Alvinston-Inwood Community Centre and continuing Saturday and Sunday.
He said the board initially hoped to include some displays inside the arena at the centre but, after reviewing the current pandemic rules, decided to go with all outside activities.
Armstrong said organizers wanted to go ahead with some fall events for the community rather than cancel the fair again this year because of the pandemic.
There was also a need to earn funds so the fair board can be ready when the full fair returns, hopefully in 2022, he said.
“We are having the big tractor pull with the Southwestern Ontario Tractor Pullers Association,” Armstrong said about Friday evening’s events. “That’s about the only event they’ve had this year, so we’re hoping we’re going to get lots of tractors out.”
More bleachers have been added at the grounds to allow the crowd to socially distance, he said.
“We haven’t had a tractor pull in five years – between COVID and because of the weather,” Armstrong said. “Friday night sure looks like it’s going to be a perfect night for a tractor pull.”
Later in the evening, a band is set to perform under a new pavilion built behind the arena by a local Optimist Club.
“That will go until 2 a.m. and there will be some refreshments available,” Armstrong said.
A fall parade is set for Saturday, with entries gathering at Munro Honey on River Street in Alvinston and leaving at noon to travel to the fairgrounds.
A vintage tractor pull begins there at 1:30 p.m. and a pet show is set to begin at 3 p.m. at the pavilion.
“After the pet show, we’ve got a drive-thru roast beef dinner,” Armstrong said.
There will be a non-fair board activity that evening at the arena when the Alvinston Killer Bees, a new Sr. A hockey team, plays its home opener.
“COVID restrictions will apply inside the arena,” Armstrong said. “After the home opener, they’re going to have a band playing out in the Optimist Pavilion.”
Sunday, a demolition derby starts at 1 p.m.
There will be no admission charge for Saturday’s events. On Friday evening and Sunday, admission will be $20 for adults and no charge for elementary and high school students.
There’s also a scarecrow and other fall-themed contests for residents of the community, including a Pumpking and Pumpqueen contest where kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils were given seeds in the spring and encouraged to grow pumpkins that will be weighed to determine the title holders.
Food vendors will be on site at the grounds during the weekend.
Armstrong said they’re hopeful the scaled-down version of the fair attracts a crowd.
“Farmers are going to be taking beans off, but I’m hearing that a lot of them are saying, ‘you know what, I can just shut the combine down at 7 p.m. and come out and have some fun at the fair for a couple of hours and support the community,’” he said.
pmorden@postmedia.com
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