Tantramar’s Fall Fair officially kicks off later this week with all the usual activities residents and visitors have come to expect, with one large absence – the midway.
Now in its 24th year, the fair is the largest event put on by the municipality, with an assortment of activities for folks to enjoy from Sept. 16-20, including fireworks, a parade and Family Day along with much more.
While the PEI Carnival Company is still coming the following weekend, it is nonetheless disappointing they won’t be here for the fair, said Jessica Wilson, program coordinator for the municipality of Tantramar.
“ It sucks, I’m not gonna lie. It does. But I’ve seen a lot of people say that they’re kind of happy that it’s happening the weekend after so that they can actually take in more of the other events that are happening on Fall Fair because we have so much going on that it’s hard to balance everything.”
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As for why the PEI Carnival Company is coming later, there’s no great mystery, as the Albert County Exhibition, which has been going on for over 100 years, falls on the same weekend as the Fair, she said.
“ When we originally had reached out, everybody thought we were good and dates were good, and then we got the call a couple weeks ago that nope, they are gonna be at Albert County, and they thought ours was the weekend after.”
If anything, Wilson thinks the move could lead to greater attendance of the other events the town puts on.
“ People that their kids want to be at the rides, and they’ve got to spend some time there with them, now they can actually go down for the Family Day event, or they can spend time at any of the other events or programs that are happening throughout that weekend.”
The first event is Fall Fair trivia at Bagtown Brewery on Wednesday evening. Thursday sees events across Tantramar, including an open house at Sackville Fire & Rescue and the opening of a sports exhibit at Boultenhouse Heritage Centre. Then things officially get started Friday at 6 pm, with opening ceremonies. Following the ceremonies is the children’s parade and then children’s dance, with the large fireworks show at Marshview Middle School field later that evening.
The main event Saturday will be the Family Day activities on Dufferin Street from 10 am to 5 pm, with the parade at 1 pm, and then Sunday moves things out to Lillas Fawcett Park, where there will be a sandcastle competition and the 13th annual “Anything that Floats Race.”
Things wrap up with the Tantramar Heritage Trust’s annual “Taste of History” fundraising dinner at 6:30 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion on Lorne Street.
For the full brochure of events, head to the Tantramar Fall Fair page and keep an eye on the municipalities’ social media accounts, as well as the Fall Fair Facebook event for any cancellations or rescheduling.
