Harvest time and a summer of hard work are celebrated with the country fair. Now it's time to slow down and catch up with friends. A few weeks have gone by since I was there and you might have seen my draft horse post but you really should see some more of the fair. It ran for 4 days and while I was only there for the last one, I did make a quick trip around. Just so you can get your bearings, this is a tiny town on the western edge of Ottawa, Canada.
On arriving, the first thing you see is the midway with the popular ferris wheel and other fun rides as well as games of chance and skill.
Every young child should go ride the pretty horses on the carousel at least once in their childhood.
I caught some of the sheep show that day. This is a chance for people that don't live on farms to get up close to the animals, always popular with little kids.
Here, they are judging some young sheep. These ones were all born this past spring. I enjoy hearing what the judges say about the animals as they point out good features on them. How else would I know? What you don't hear from a photo is the constant "Baa, baa."
A beautiful black sheep with its owner at the sheep judging barn.
I couldn't help wondering what this dog was thinking at the sheep shearing exhibit, like... "Bro is that you?" Country fairs are a place where you can get outside and enjoy the fresh air and entertainment with man's best friend.
On several buildings, there are beautiful murals featuring local people. We're heading back towards the midway and exhibit building.
Now it's not just animals that are judged. In the exhibit building are agricultural products, flowers, crafts, children's art...
This display of flowers is the first thing you see when you enter the exhibit building. If you scroll back to the photo of the carousel, it's the interesting building behind it. Not a big building at all, I went through both floors in less than 20 minutes.
The quilts, crafts, and knitted garments made for beautiful displays.
We're back outside on the midway. As a teen, this was the most interesting part for me. Not now, I would rather avoid the crowds but there was something I wanted to show you. Meanwhile, it's always fun to do some people watching. At night the midway is a display of flashing lights and there is always that distinctive somewhat corny midway music.
Here it is, the Beavertail booth!
A local, undeniably popular treat are beavertails! You will be relieved to hear they're not the tail of our national animal but a big flat unleavened doughnut. My favourite has lemon juice and cinnamon on it. Mmmmm... If you come to a fair in this area, you have to try one. (I didn't want to spoil my dinner.)
References
The Carp Fair Heavy Horse Show
The Carp Fair website
