Caledon Fall Fair 'a family affair'

The 147th annual Caledon Fall Fair makes a splash September 7-8-9.

The theme is A Family Affair and most events keep the whole family in mind. The fair begins Friday evening with the Demolition Derby. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the derby begins at 8.

The midway will be running and the food booths will be open. There will be regular demolition heats and the Firefighters' Challenge cup heat.

Saturday morning the parade lines up at 10 a.m. on McCort Street, and starts to proceed into the back gates of the fairgrounds just after 11 a.m. It will include the 164th Royal Canadian Air Cadets pipers and drums with colour party, the Shriner clowns, several decorated wagons, antique cars and more. The parade will wind its way to the Showmobile for the official opening of the fair.

Immediately following the opening of the fair will be the crowning of the 2007-2008 Caledon Fair Ambassador followed by the charity pie and homemade preserves auction, all on the showmobile. Clowns will roam the fairgrounds making balloon animals and entertaining.

At 2 p.m. under the white tent to the east will be Antique Road Show. People can bring in three items to be verbally appraised for $10.

The 3 certified appraisers are Wayne Townsend from the Dufferin County Museum, Annette Turturicci from Inglewood Antiques, and Marion Mason, a Caledon antique dealer. This show was most successful last year and we are looking forward to appraising many more family treasures this year.

Also at 2 p.m. is the Children's Pet Show near the showmobile. It has many different categories to enter. Of course while all of these events are happening, the English Horse Show will run from 9 a.m. in the horse ring followed by the Showcase of Horses in the western horse show ring from 1 to 4 p.m.

At 4 p.m. the family chicken BBQ will be served until 7 p.m. under the white tent near the showmobile. At the same time, to entertain you at dinner will be the Northwood Country and Western Band from Alliston on the showmobile.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday you can catch the flyball and agility dog shows at 11, 1 and 3 p.m. beside the hall.

Saturday evening is the Truck and Tractor Pull starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be different classes of 4x4 trucks and highway tractors.

Sunday morning we start all over again with the Western Horse Show and the Welsh Pony Show beginning at 9 a.m. Many divisions will run throughout the day. The Livestock and 4-H Beef Club commence at 10 a.m. followed by the Dairy and Beef type on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday at 11 a.m. on the Showmobile will be the new Caledon Idol Contest. Come watch the singers and dancers vying for the title.

The Children's Pedal Pull begins at 2 p.m. Lucky draws for the girl's bicycle, the boy's bicycle and the quilt will be held at 3 p.m. on the showmobile.

Both days you can visit the Hall and see the winning homecraft displays, and outside, see the antique tractors and farm machinery display.

A lot of proud volunteers have worked hard to produce a fair worthy of your visit. Please come and enjoy the Fair Sept. 7, 8 and 9.

There are at least 15 free things to do at the Fall Fair.

1. Watch the dog flyball and agility show Saturday or Sunday.

2. Enter or come and watch the fall fair parade Saturday morning.

3. Watch the western or English horse show, or the Showcase of horses and learn more about them.

4. Visit the Agricultural Awareness big white tent and participate in the many activities inside.

5. Watch the truck and tractor pull Saturday evening.

6. Be entertained at the Showmobile Sunday at 11 a.m. by the Caledon Idol contestants.

7. Visit the Heritage Hall and view all the winning fair exhibits, and see what you could enter next year.

8. Talk to the owners of the antique tractors and farm machinery at their outdoor display.

9. Catch the country and western band, Northwood on the Showmobile Saturday from 4 to 7pm.

10. Enter the draw to win a free boy's or girl's bicycle.

11. Watch the kids' pet show Saturday afternoon.

12. Watch or enter your children in the Pedal Pull at 1:30 Sunday.

13. Take photographs of fair events to enter in the photography contest next year.

14. See the firefighters' demonstration.

15. See the Ontario Provincial Police display.

And then, of course, if you have any money to spend, you can visit the midway, the food booths, or the concession stands, the homemade pie and preserves auction and the demolition derby.

For more information visit their Web site, www.caledonfairgrounds.ca.