Family is the theme for the 38th annual Horsefly Fall Fair coming up this Saturday, Aug. 24 in Horsefly and there will be lots for families to see and do including crafts for the children and two sets of wagon rides for the whole family.
“There will be an area set up downstairs in the community hall for anyone to display genealogy, family history or tell a story,” notes Horsefly reporter Bruce MacLeod.
“If you are a musician or singer bring your instrument and enthusiasm as we have an open call for music or any kind of entertainment.”
He says there will be the usual pets and livestock, old tractors, produce, canning and food supplied by local vendors.
The judging takes place in the morning with doors for the public opening at noon and closing at 4 p.m.
This year, MacLeod says there will be a special judges choice award in honour of Sharon Thomas who passed away earlier this year.
The award honouring Thomas is for excellence in floral art says Sandy McNie, who is serving her first year as the fair president. She says Thomas served for many years as the Horsefly Fall Fair president and Horsefly Women’s Institute president.
“Our fall fair is always really, really popular,” says McNie, in inviting Williams Lake and surrounding communities to come out and enjoy the afternoon in Horsefly.
The Horsefly Women’s Institute will have hamburgers on the grill as well as fruit and coffee for sale between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Opportunities will also be available to purchase farm produce such as garden vegetables, fruit, eggs, grain and other products raised in the region.
There will also be games such as the traditional strongman, high striker game where participants use a sledge hammer to see if they can run a marker up a pole to ring a bell.
McNie adds there will be all sorts of home crafts on display in the Horsefly Community Hall: quilting, needlework, woodwork, baking, photography, canning, jams, jellies, wine, eggs, butter, honey, floral art, children’s entries, and more.
Across the street in the arena next to the school grounds there will be all sorts of farm animals among the entries.
“It’s a great little fair,” McNie concludes.
Christina Mary says wagon rides will be available starting at 1:30 p.m. provided by Little Horsefly Western Town B&B and Gravel Creek Hay Rides.
She says the fair competition is open to Horsefly residents and summer guests, and that the largest cabbage entered last year weighed in at 11 lb. 5 oz. and was grown by McNie.
Admission is $2 for adults and free for children 12 and under and for exhibitors.