Parham Idol added to popular fair schedule

Jeff Green | Aug 25, 2011

The Parham Fair is back for the 119th time and it will be a memorable one for at least one aspiring singer.

On Friday night at 7:30, while the horse pull is going on in front of the grandstand, five nervous young singers will perform on the musical stage at the entrance to the fair grounds. In addition to a few hundred of their closest friends and neighbours, there will be two people in particular that they will be trying to impress.

Mark McDonnell and Riq Turner, two members of the country rock trio Ambush, will be listening intently as Shane Arney, Bram Hazelton, Brianna Sargeant, Violet Skuce, and Maria Ayello each perform.

Once they are done, Mark and Riq will put their heads together and crown the winner of the first ever Parham Idol contest.

Ambush has been part of the Parham Idol program from the start, since Mark and Riq joined Debra Smith from the fair board at the auditions for Parham Idol, which were held back in late July to determine the five finalists.

The winner will be joining Ambush on stage when their show, which has become a Parham Fair tradition in recent years, kicks off at 8 p.m.

Saturday is family and agricultural day at the fair, with cattle, horse, and poultry shows taking place in the main and back rings, games for youth and volleyball tournament on tap, as well as reptile shows and the Piccadilly Jam on the music stage throughout the afternoon. Lawn mower races return for another year at 3:00 in the main ring, followed by the Greased Pigs and the 4 wheeler pull, which starts up at 7:30.

The 4-wheeler pull is one event that anyone can enter, and it is not necessary to register in advance. Anyone with an ATV can bring it along and check in before 7:30 and try their luck.

On Saturday night, Dan Stoness will be the one Elvis impersonator in Eastern Ontario who will not be in Tweed, as he will be performing the music stage at 7 p.m. His show will lead into the return of Bauder Road to the Parham Festival stage.

Sunday, the final day of the fair, will start with a pet show followed by the Tug of War and Karate demonstrations. Finally at 2:00, the annual Demolition Derby gets underway, bringing a smashing end to the 119th annual Parham Fair.

As always, throughout the fair there will be Palace displays and exhibits, food available and the Homeniuk midway rides.