Community set to celebrate turning of season with annual Fall Fair

Family fun is in store as Sackville gets set to host its annual Fall Fair.

From a petting zoo to a pet show, from a crowd-pleasing parade to a twisting corn maze, from antique cars to vintage tractors, and from medieval music to blues and country, it's all part of the energy that surrounds this year's community-focused festival.

Set for Sept. 17-20, Sackville's Fall Fair is fast approaching and organizers are working hard to finalize last-minute details for the events.

"It's going to be the typical fall fair that we've all come to know and love," said Rebecca Leaman, manager of programs and special events for the town.

Musical entertainment at the Bridge Street tent, the popular field day at the Doncaster farm, a sub-eating contest for teens, a children's parade, and the Main Street parade on Saturday afternoon are all returning to this year's Fall Fair, while several new events are also on the line-up, including a Medieval fair and a Campbell's Carriage Factory celebration.

Unfortuately, said Leaman, two of the most-loved activities from past fall fairs won't be part of this year's schedule - the midway and the street cart derby.

Leaman said she contacted three different companies about bringing in a midway to Sackville this year but because the Fall Fair falls a bit earlier in the month than usual, they were all booked up for other exhibitions and festivals. And she explained that the dates of the Fall Fair, always the third weekend in September, are set in advance and can't be changed because they've already been promoted in tourism brochures and provincial advertising.

The street cart derby has been put on the chopping block this year because the longtime head organizer has stepped down from running the event and no one else has yet stepped forward to take it over, said Leaman.

But for those who are disappointed with the loss of the carnival rides and games, as well as the soap box races, there's still much to see and do during the weekend-long festivities.

"The Farm Field Day will be bigger and better than ever this year," said Leaman, who noted there will be more pony rides, more music and the addition of country fair games to the activities at the Doncaster farm, which also include a corn maze, a petting zoo, threshing demonstrations, wagon rides, and a family market.

The apple pie bake-off was also such a hit last year during the Farm Field Day that this year organizers have added a chocolate chip cookie baking contest as well, she said.

Leaman insisted the Doncaster Farm will be "a really nice family-friendly place to be on Saturday."

"That's definitely a centerpiece of the Fall Fair," she said. "It's about community, it's about heritage, and it's educational too."

The Fall Fair parade is also one of the highlights of the year and will kick off on Saturday afternoon immediately following the Main Street Mile race. The theme for the parade is Growing up Green and Leaman expects local businesses and organizations will find creative ways to incorporate that into their floats and parade entries.

The Bridge Street tent in downtown Sackville will host many Fall Fair events throughout the weekend, including a range of musical acts, kicking off with a youth street dance on Friday evening following the opening ceremonies. Then P.E.I. band Boxer the Horse will perform a set starting at 9 p.m., followed up by the Novaks and the return of Hey Rosetta.

On Saturday night, the Tantramarsh Blues Society will host The Streamliners, who will open up for Juno award-winner Garrett Mason.

The Farm Field Day will also feature a variety of country and bluegrass acts throughout the day at the farm.

"The music will be great all weekend. There'll be some great energy at these shows," said Leaman. "There's a bit of something for everyone."

Check out upcoming issues of the Sackville Tribune-Post for a more detailed schedule of the Fall Fair line-up.