ERIN – Organizers are excited to welcome back the Erin Fall Fair.
The annual fair will run Thanksgiving weekend, from Oct. 6 to 10 at the Erin Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5pm Thursday, 4pm Friday and 8am Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The theme for this year’s fair is “Family Ties and Homemade Pies.”
Fair president Brenda Lothmann said the committee thought the theme was “a good one to come back into some normalcy.
“We have our challenges volunteer wise, which I think most fairs are feeling the heat of that,” Lothmann said of bringing the full fair back.
“But we’ve come together and are working the best we can.”
This year’s fair-goers can expect some changes to the fairgrounds.
Truck pull – This year’s truck pull will take place on the Saturday instead of the traditional Friday of the fair, organizers confirm. The tractor pull will now take place on the Friday. Advertiser file photo
The Erin Agricultural Society recently fundraised through the RCMP Musical Ride to build a new agri-dome building, which will now house the society’s ag-awareness and sheep and goat shows during the weekend long fair.
The vendor tent, petting zoo and antique tractors display have also been moved around the grounds.
“So it will look a little different when people come to the fair this year but I think that’s good,” Lothmann said. “Change can be good for a fair like that.”
Organizers have also switched the days for the truck and tractor pull. The tractor pull will now take place on the Friday and the trucks will run Saturday.
“We’ve decided to change that this year, again, to just give us a little bit of variety,” Lothmann explained.
“Our ambassador competition is looking a little different this year; more of a leadership program,” she noted. “We’re really excited about some changes that that is bringing to the competitors.”
Organizers will also be bringing in some entertainment with live music at the Festival Gardens in the evenings.
“We feel good,” Lothmann said of heading into the fair.
“We were lucky to be able to have some semblance of a fair last year. But I think we’re looking forward to being able to do more this year.”
Lothmann confirmed organizers are sticking with no cash sales at the gate to keep things safer. However, there will be vendors on the fairgrounds that will require cash.
For those looking to purchase tickets online, admission tickets remain unchanged from 2019 prices and are as follows: $12 ($13.50 after fees) for adults, $5 ($6.05 after fees) for children ages five to 12 and children under five are free.
For ticket purchases at the gate, only debit and credit will be accepted. Pricing at the gate is as follows: $18 for adults, $8 for children ages five to 12 and children under five are free.
With tickets available at a discounted price online, Lothmann said organizers are hoping to drive ticket sales online to allow for a smoother entry into the fair.
This year’s silent auction will once again be held virtually. Items will be available to view in the Exhibit Hall, but bidding will be conducted online.
Cattle and horse shows, family entertainment and pet shows will also be a part of the fair fun. Homecrafts will also be returning to the Exhibit Hall and will be available all weekend.
“The majority of our shows are coming back and we’re excited to have a new building on the ground to showcase our ag-awareness displays,” Lothmann said.
“We are an agricultural society at heart,” she added.
“So we do want to have people that come to the fair be able to have access to that agricultural section that maybe they don’t have in their … day-to-day living.”
