Terry McNamee
Special to the Beaver
On the August long weekend, with the weather gods smiling for all four days of the 188th edition of the Napanee Fair.
Crowds poured through the gates, making the event a complete success.
“Numbers were up,” said fair secretary and treasurer Krissi Martin. “I think overall we had a very good weekend. It was successful, and everyone had a lot of fun.”
Partbred Welsh Ponies named Timmy and Ginger did their best for owner/driver Glenn Parks of Bancroft. Photo by Terry McNamee,
Horsepower met pony power for the heavy horse and pony weight-pulling events, and they attracted many spectators. Martin said entries were up in both divisions. Another weighty competition, this time for the fire truck and tractor pulls, also brought out the spectators, she said.
While there was no show for dairy cattle this year, there was competition for beef cattle, goats and poultry. All three categories boasted excellent entries.
Hunter Betts-Coleman age six, of Napanee handled his goat Pink, a Nigerian Dwarf/Toggenburg cross. Photo by Terry McNamee.
“The goat show seemed to go over very well,” she said.
“Our beef show was up quite a bit,” Martin said, noting that the beef show convenors did a lot of work in the months previous to attract exhibitors. Their hard work paid off with between 70 and 75 head of beef cattle coming to compete.
“The numbers have really increased the past couple of years,” she said.
Napanee resident Chantell McMahon and her eight-year-old daughter, Abigail, check out the top winners in the bantam poultry division. Photo by Terry McNamee.
Something new this year was a princess who walked around the fairgrounds on Saturday, to the delight of many little girls. Katie’s Kritters petting zoo was also there two of the four days and was a big draw for all ages.
Martin also commented on the large midway provided by World’s Finest Shows. She said the rides and attractions were all sparkling with fresh paint and the entire midway was clean, tidy, friendly and had something to suit all ages.
Four-year-old Savannah Hughes of Erinsville had a blast riding in a giant bee on the midway. Photo by Terry McNamee.
“The midway does a phenomenal job,” she said.
As always, events like the musical entertainment, the beer garden, the horse shows, the home craft exhibits and the demolition derby kept the crowds happy and left them looking forward to next year’s Napanee Fair.