Chickens and duck races, prized pigs, art and crafts, tips on gardening and educational displays are all part of the Coombs Fair taking place this weekend. The Fair has been running since 1913 and aims to advance the awareness and education of agriculture in our area.
This year education at the two-day event will have a focus on food security, explained fair co-ordinator Janet Boley, with information on vermiponics, aquaponics, watersmart initiatives, soil and how to grow food in earth boxes.
“This is such a timely thing this food security so all those things are coming together for one big food security display,” said Boley.
The fair holds one of the largest 4H shows on Vancouver Island, allowing members to display their projects and hone their skills for other fairs. Catch 4-H Club’s musical ride on Saturday.
Displays of interest include the Vancouver Island Blacksmiths and the Flying Dutchman’s live bee and honey display, and Boley said the local spinners, weavers and rug hookers always draw a good crowd.
The dunk tank and Ladies Nail Driving are both good spectator sports and the chicken and duck races are always a crowd pleaser, explained Boley.
“The chicken and duck races happen both days and that’s always one of the more hilarious things that people like to watch.”
Those races will take place at 4 p.m. both days.
For kids there is a merry-go-swing, bouncy castles, a children’s game centre and always plenty of animals looking for a tender pat.
Local artists from Oceanside and beyond will be entertaining from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day including the Rainbow Stew Cloggers and Coombs Old Time Fiddlers. There will be plenty of food and drinks available from fries, mini donuts, burgers, hot dogs, nachos, homemade pies, coffee, tea and more.
This year there will also be about a dozen tables around the grounds painted for a game of tic tac toe or checkers.
The Coombs Fair takes place Aug. 13 and 14 at the Coombs Fairgrounds located behind the Coombs General Store from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission to the Fair is $5 per day or $8 for both days, $3 per day for students and seniors or $5 for both days and $1 per day for children 6-12. Children under 5 are free.
For more information on the Coombs Fair turn to pages B4 and B5 or visit www.coombsfair.com.