Thousands are expected to flock to the area for a fun-filled weekend as the Westlock & District Agricultural Society kicks off its 103rd fair running Friday to Sunday, Aug. 18-20.
“Probably between 10,000 and 15,000 (people) is what we usually get out,” estimated Ag Society president Bob Jones. “We’re hoping it’ll be a nice weekend and we can either beat or meet our attendance record.”
Most of the events will go ahead rain or shine — except for the horse pull and chariot races — and if last Sunday’s light horse show at the Ag Barn was any indication, it could be a sunny weekend.
Though the heat might quell your stomach, there will be plenty of food to get it growling.
This Thursday, Citizens on Patrol will be cooking up a barbecue at the Westlock RCMP detachment from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Legion will be frying up a pancake breakfast Friday and Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Ag Society will take its turn in the kitchen at the Ag grounds on Sunday.
The fair will officially kick off with a Canada-150 themed parade Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. The route starts at the Westlock Gospel Chapel and winds its way downtown.
Down at the Ag grounds, the hall exhibit and the Canadian Tractor Museum will be open to fairgoers.
Speaking of tractors, the tractor pull will get rolling at 1 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Old Timers Cabin located east of the Ag Society office will open its doors from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday afternoon.
The biggest draw to the annual event is of course the rodeo. Although the mini chuckwagon races were cancelled this year because of a driver shortage, the chuckwagon and chariot races are still going ahead.
Those races will happen at the Mountie Park racetrack on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
On Saturday down at the Ag Barn, fine bovine specimens will be stepping up for judgement and prizes at the beef show.
Anyone who wants to get a little close to a few furry creatures can also take a step inside the petting zoo.
Just behind the Ag Barn, the threshing demonstration is happening at 3 p.m. that same day.
Sunday wraps up with the demolition derby at 4 p.m. at the rodeo grounds so bring your rubber boots in case it pours.
“They bring garbage bags and umbrellas and rubber boots and they sit there in them stands in the pouring rain watching the demolition derby,” Jones recalled of one particularly wet demolition derby.
Tickets for the fair are $10 a day for people ages 14 and up. Kids seven to 13 years are $5 a day, and children under six are free. Three-day passes are $25 for unlimited access in and out of the fair grounds.
All the money raised from the fair will go toward this year’s prizes and next year’s fair.
“I would invite everybody to come out and join the fun and help support the Ag Society so we can have future fairs,” Jones said.
The midway will cost you $35 for a book of 40 tickets but early birds can grab that for $30 until Friday at the Ag Society office.
Once again, the North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) is hosting its Senior ‘AA’ championship semi-finals Saturday and Sunday at Keller Field.
The league is also celebrating 50 years with free and paid activities all weekend at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
