September 3, 2010

The Nicola Valley Fall Fair marks its 35th year this Labour Day weekend and the two-day event will again feature thousands of displays from hundreds of entrants.

According to Reimer, “We usually have about 300 entrants” who display about 2,000 items across a cornucopia of categories at the fair.

“There’s flowers, fruits and vegetables, baking, canning, forage crops…,” says Kathy Reimer, the fair’s convener.

“We have an antique tractor show and vintage cars.

“There’s animals and students and all kinds of stuff,” she adds.

Smaller animals like chickens, pigeons, and rabbits will be present in addition to larger livestock, such as goats, sheep, and swine.

Other categories include fine arts, photography, and crafts.

The Nicola Valley Fall Fair takes place at the Merritt fairground off of Lindley Creek Road, beside the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo, also being held this weekend.

The fair and rodeo share property but two separate groups organize each event. The Nicola Valley Fall Fair Association is a member of the B.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions.

The fairground opens to the public at noon on Saturday and closes at 8 p.m. that night. On Sunday, the fairground is open from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 in the afternoon.

The Nicola Valley Fall Fair Country Dance inside the exhibition building at the fairground tops off the weekend. The dance starts at 9 p.m. and finishes at 1 a.m. Merritt local John Allison is again serving as host and DJ at the dance.

Fairgoers of all ages are welcome at all fair events, except for the dance, which is open to adults 19 years of age and older only.

Reimer says the pet show on Sunday at 10 a.m. will be one of the more colourful exhibits at the fair.

Children and adults alike will bring their pets to the show, in which awards will be handed out for the longest tail, shortest tail, best dressed, best pet-owner look-alikes, and more.

Attendance at past fairs has varied, but should exceed 1,000 people.

“We usually have 1,000 to 2,500, roughly,” says Reimer.

The Nicola Valley Fall Fair Association is made up of volunteers who put the fair together during the rest of the year, but Reimer says any help this weekend is welcome.

“Even if it’s just a few hours, it’s helpful.”

This year, the fair is being held in memory of Rainbow the Clown, known off the fairground as Lyle Boulund.

Boulund performed as Rainbow the Clown at the Nicola Valley Fall Fair for 19 years. He died last Saturday

“He’ll be sadly missed by all fairgoers,” says Reimer.

“The kids just loved him.”