Sue Nielsen
Speaker Reporter
TEMISKAMING SHORES — As summer turns to autumn, fall fairs are a staple of the North’s rural life.
And people are excited about meeting up at the fair as the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on the in-person events.
The biggest fall fair held across Northeastern Ontario is returning for an in-person celebration.
The 2022 New Liskeard fair takes place over three days beginning on Thursday, September 15, and runs to Saturday, September 17.
There is something for everyone at this year’s New Liskeard Agricultural Society’s Fall Fair as Thursday is Senior’s Day, Friday is Kids Day and Saturday is being billed as Family Day.
From heavy horse pulls, to food vendors, local entertainment, children’s Pumpkinfest, animal displays, baby contest, the Harvest Queen Pageant and more, the fair is a great way to connect with the agricultural community of south Temiskaming.
Traditionally, the family-friendly fair attracts over 5,000 people to the fair grounds during the three-day event.
THURSDAY
Thursday follows its usual tradition of honouring the region’s seniors, who have free admission from 12 to 3 p.m.
Gates are open to the public at noon with the poultry barn, light horse shows and exhibit stalls all open.
Home crafts will be viewed at Riverside Place, entertainment is on stage at the Horne Granite Club, goat shows, draft horse pulls, the Harvest Queen Pageant and the popular attendance draw all take place on opening day.
The 2022 attendance draw prize is a 2022 John Deere Gator side-by-side vehicle.
FRIDAY
Friday is a day for kids!
The gates open at 8 a.m. and the action-packed day begins with horse events in the main ring.
The midway opens at 1 p.m. and at this time the mega Kid’s Day Parade takes place whereby kids from the various schools in the region march down Whitewood Avenue to the Fall Fair grounds, proudly showing their school colours and wearing western clothing.
There’s a scavenger hunt for kids at 3 p.m., a sheep show, Western games in the main ring and the Harvest Queen contestant finals on the main stage inside the curling club.
The attendance draw finishes off the second day of the fair.
SATURDAY
On the final day of the fair the gates will again open at 8 a.m. with plenty of crafts, horse shows, the new-to-the-fair Pumpkinfest event, a baby contest and the midway opens at noon.
There is a fall fair parade, which winds its way through the downtown streets of New Liskeard to the fair grounds.
A dog show takes place in the main ring along with a beef market sale and, capping it all off, is the attendance draw and the announcement of the grand prize winner.