Community on the Bounty. That is the theme of the 105th annual Summerland Fall Fair, being held this weekend.
“We are a community that has so much bounty, that we need to celebrate,” said Connie Davis. “We picked up on the ship theme and are working on the pirate theme for the kids. We even have our big apple dressed up as a pirate.”
Davis is a long- time volunteer with the fair. This year she has stepped in at the last moment to fill the role of volunteer coordinator.
Although the number varies from year to year, between 120 and 145 volunteers help make the fair happen.
“Our volunteers are from nine years old and up,” said Davis.
“We really encourage and work with our junior volunteers. Once we get them going they tend to come back every year and they want to do it again.”
At 93 years of age, Trudy Lidster is the fair’s eldest volunteer and is happy to tell people her age. She works on the trophies, putting on the engraving and polishing them up.
“I enjoy it and it’s something to do,” she said.
The Tuesday night before the fair is when the bulk of the work begins, with the setting up of walls, tables and chairs.
“Set up and take down are horrendous,” said Davis. “The curling club makeover is phenomenal. To go from an empty cement shell…we take that and the upstairs area as well and convert it into a fair. It’s very labour intensive.”
Outside, tents and security fencing are put up on Thursday night. This is also the night the exhibitors arrive.
Each volunteer convenor has the responsibility for one category of the exhibition. They set up the exhibit, making sure it not only has eye appeal, but is laid out appropriately for the judges. The convenor also selects a judge for their category, making sure it is someone who has knowledge and understanding of the items being displayed.
Friday night is for all the finishing touches and the night that the vendors come in, so everything is ready to go, come Saturday morning.
The volunteer board of directors will be in attendance, with each one assigned specific hours to be the face of the fair. An office tent will be on site for anyone needing to contact a board member.
“It’s a very active working board. Those people who come to the board must be available and be actively working, not just directing the ship. They have to pull the ropes too,” explained Davis.
The board members are responsible for all the behind the scenes planning and organizing of the fair.
They raise funds by renting out space to vendors and obtaining local sponsorship.
They design tee shirts and put together a brochure, set out signage and advertise the fair.
They put together the ribbon packages and strive to find entertainment that is suitable for all ages.
They are also on hand to take it all down again at the fair’s end and to host a volunteer appreciation pie and coffee social.
Along with the exhibitions, in 26 different categories, the fair will include many of the previous years’ favourite attractions. New to the fair this year will be a Celtic band called Ceili appearing on stage at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
“The entrance gate fee of $5 has not changed for at least 20 years and children under 12 are free. The Bottleneck Drive Wine Fair tickets will also be sold at the gate rather than at the wineries as advertised,” said Davis.
For a full schedule of events and highlights go to summerlandfallfair.com or pick up a brochure at the Fall Fair office or at local businesses.
Do you plan on celebrating the community’s bounty by attending the Fall Fair? If so it opens Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the Summerland Curling Club, Jubilee Ave. E.
If you know a positive story about someone in our community, contact Carla McLeod at carlamcleod@shaw.ca or contact the Summerland Review newsroom at 250-494-5406.
