123rd Parham Fair coming up Aug. 21 - 23

Wendy Parliament | Aug 12, 2015

President of the Parham Agricultural Society, Wendy Parliament, says interaction is the key principle behind this year’s version of the Parham Fair. “We wanted to plan an event where people young and old could enjoy trying their hand at farming activities.”

Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies include the Hay Bale Rolling Contest and the Cattle Calling Contest. The whole family can get in on the Pet Show and the Best Dressed Cowboy or Cowgirl contests.

Saturday is family day at the fair. Critter Corral will include ‘Moooonica’, a cow that teaches you how to milk her, from the Ontario Dairy Farmers. There will also be a children’s hay bale playground, lassoing games, horseshoe games, a giant corn-filled sandbox with farm toys, baby chicks and goats and a Petting Zoo of farm animals with free pony rides. Displays will encourage everyone to learn a little about today’s local farming practices. Extra seating in the shade will be provided to allow parents and grandparents to rest while the younger ones play in the Critter Corral barn.

The afternoon will feature Country Fair Games for kids “of all ages”. The ever-popular egg toss, pie eating, log sawing and nail hammering will be featured in front of the grandstand. Kids races, shoe toss, and sack races will take place in the Fair Games arena.

There is a “Unlimited Ride” program in effect for Saturday’s fair. This makes it easy for parents to outfit their family for a day full of midway entertainment. Coupons for ride bracelets can be purchased at local stores. Check the fair website for details.

The Exhibition Palace will feature displays of handiwork ranging from garden crops to works of art. Just outside the Palace the fair has added four new picnic tables to allow lots of room for people to sit down with meals and treats provided by the local churches.

There will be spectator sports as well. Friday night features the Horse Pull, Saturday morning the Cattle Show and Saturday afternoon the Miniature Horse Show and Lawn Tractor Races. Sunday afternoon the Demolition Derby returns. There will be concerts featuring local talent both Friday and Saturday night. Friday night “Old Habits” opens the evening and “HD Supply” shuts down the midway. On Saturday night “One Busted Ego” warms things up for “Shawn McCullough”.

This will be the Parham Fair’s 123rd year. For more than a century local volunteers have been working to highlight agriculture, horticulture and rural living in an event that brings the community together.