ERIN – The 173rd annual Erin Fall Fair, with the theme “Beyond the Barn Door,” runs Oct. 6 to 9.
Erin Agricultural Society president Sara Parkinson said it is “amazing” to see a group of 18 people pull together the fall fair every year.
“I think that as a president … my favorite part is just to see what this group of people have worked so hard for all year, finally come to fruition,” she said.
Fall fair traditions
Like many annual events, the Erin Fall Fair has traditions it will be incorporating into its weekend once again.
On the Friday, the tractor pull will take place at the track at 6pm. The ambassador competition will follow at the Exhibits Hall an hour afterward.
Saturday will include the vintage tractor show at 9am, the heavy horse pull at noon and the truck pull at 5pm.
The extreme cowboy race will begin Sunday at 8:45am with the kids pedal pull beginning at the outdoor stage at 11am. The lawn tractor pull will commence at 5:30pm and fireworks will fill the sky at 9pm.
To wrap up the Erin Fall Fair on the Monday, the demolition derby will begin at the track at 1pm.
“The derby is kind of the big thing that everyone wants to see,” said Parkinson.
Thursday
The fair begins Oct. 5 with gates opening at 5pm. From this time until 11pm the midway will be open for toonie night (all rides and admission will be $2).
The exhibits hall will also be open this day from 6 to 9pm.
Friday
The official opening of the fair begins at 6:30pm on Oct. 6, a half hour after the café/country store opens.
The midway opens up with the rest of the fair at 4pm for bracelet day. This means that until 11pm, the midway is $40.
Saturday
If you did not already get enough time at the midway, rides will be free between the hours of 10 and 11am on Oct. 7.
The baby show will begin at 11am with the kids pedal pull. Live music will be played throughout the day at the Exhibits Hall, outdoor stage and show barn.
Music by The Mudmen and the Fitzgeralds will end the evening beginning at 7pm.
Sunday
The Fair will begin bright and early at 8:30am on Oct. 8.
Registration for the beef show begins at 9am for those interested. At 9:30am beef peewee showman begins along with the open sheep show and heavy horse and haflinger show.
At 10am there will be a birds of prey show, all beef breeds show and the Erin 4-H beef achievement.
Yvette the Puppet Lady has a show at 11am, followed by other shows at 2 and 4pm. During the hours of 10 and 11am, the midway will also have its rides for free.
Many other activities and events will take place on Oct. 8, including: lawn tractor pull, farmer’s and kid’s Olympics, birds of prey, the Erin 4-H beef interclub show and ambassador cake auction.
There will also be performances by the Orangeville Show Chorus, Paula Turnbull, Aaron Muir Band and the Campfire Poets.
Monday
Marking the end of this year’s Erin Fall Fair, gates will open at 9am on Oct. 9, with the Mimosa 4-H poultry show.
Many events and activities throughout the weekend will be done again, and there will be more music entertainment until the Fair’s closing at 4:30pm.
Be sure not to miss: children’s cookie decorating, Blue Bonnet Lassies School of Highland Dance performance, presentation of special awards at 4pm, and the 50/50 lottery draw at 4:15pm at the outdoor stage.
For a complete itinerary of the Erin Fall Fair, to buy tickets or for more information, visit erinfair.com.
