Kim Shorts: The joys of celebrating harvest with fall fairs

The first thing it overpowers is your sense of smell as you draw near. This is immediately followed by the rambunctious clash and banging in your ears. Your eyes are soon overwhelmed by just about everything going on about you. No sooner have you adjusted to this crazy-fun environment when you find a need to assail your taste buds with food - sweet and sticky.

Nothing is safe from the sensory overload … when you go to a fair.

Fall fair season is around the corner, as in, most are starting next month.

August is a good time to check out all the upcoming fall fairs in the region and plan whether you want to attend and which ones. It’s a given that children will always be on the side of fairs. But as an adult, it’s also a great way to become a kid again.

Since you know what to expect, attending a fair is good for your health, mind and all those endorphins just waiting to experience the natural highs of a fair. I’m going to ignore the non-healthy part of some of the foods. (I, traditionally, have to come home with a must-have candy apple tightly in hand!)

The Grey-Bruce region is great for the number of fairs that takes place and it is traditional that my husband, Jim, and I, and sometimes with friends, attend at least one per season.

Last year, we attended the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair and had ourselves a grinning blast.

As you enter the fair, you soak in the laughter and screams of children, on the rides … and, yes, that includes the screams from some of the big kids! All that noise just brings a smile to your face.

You’re also immediately assaulted by the weird mix of all the aromas floating in the air, from the candied to the fried, including the favourites: cotton candy and funnel cakes, corn dogs, fried pickles, turkey legs, kettle corn, and the caramel and candy apples.

As you move among the crowd and head toward the arena, the scent of baked pies draws you closer. In the arena, fresh-cut flowers and plants, the crop exhibit, along with strategically-placed hay, and a wide range of competing vegetables, put up a valiant fight with the pies and cakes.

Later on, you will definitely run into the sheep and cows and possibly some pigs, showing off. That’s a whole lotta different smells as these critters, big and small, peacefully welcome you to the show. In fact, the theme of this year’s 162nd Ripley-Huron Fall fair, slated for Sept. 26-28, is "Til the Cows Come Home."

Last year, Jim and I also took in the FMX and Trail Bikes Show and the dog show. While I was mesmerized with the impressive motorbike aerobatics, Jim thoroughly enjoyed the dog show, and the live music is always a treat! The heat didn’t distract us from all the fun we were having. Just remember to drink lots of water when it is hot out.

As a reminder, the petting zoos are not just for the children. My big kid is always taken with the Alpacas at the Kincardine Fall Fair and must have a pet and a conversation with one.

I found a great on-line site, Ontario Fairs, that provides information about all of the fairs in Ontario. It’s easy to find the fairs in this region. Hit the links to get the dates and locations.

Here's a list of some of the local fall fairs:
 

• Kincardine Fall Fair: Aug. 29-30
• Paisley Fall Fair: Sept. 6
• Chesley Fall Fair: Sept. 6-7
• Owen Sound Fall Fair: Sept. 6-7
• Dundalk Fall Fair: Sept. 6-8
• Mildmay: Sept. 6-8
• Arran-Tara: Sept. 10-11
• Lucknow Fall Fair: Sept. 13-15
• Ripley-Huron Fall Fair: Sept. 26-28
• Tiverton Fall Fair: Oct. 3-5

As a reminder, you should always consult first with family and friends before going to the fair. They just may want to join you!