BARRHEAD - Every year the Barrhead Agricultural Society sets itself a goal: to create a Blue Heron Fair Days that has something for everyone.
And this year, Fair Days chair Brenda Visser said she is confident that the society has done that.
"Of course, to find out if you agree, you will have to take in the fair perhaps multiple times to learn if we have succeeded," she said.
This year's version of the fair takes place on the Aug. 13-14 weekend at the Agricultural Society's rodeo grounds.
Daily passes for the fair are $15 for adults (17 and older), $10 (youths six to 16) and children five and under are free. Two-day passes are $25 and $15. Tickets are available at the gate, and for the first time, Interact and credit card payment options are available. Fairgoers can also pay online via Showpass.com.
Festivities officially begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the Ag. Barn with a horse show.
An hour later, starting at 10 a.m. in Barrhead's downtown area, is the Blue Heron Fair Day parade. The parade's theme is "Back Together and Better than Ever" to celebrate the event's return after a two-year hiatus.
The fairgrounds officially open at 2 p.m. on Saturday (10 a.m. on Sunday), starting with the opening of the inflatable village, face painters and balloon artists, along with a new attraction, and a Fitset Ninja Obstacle Course, featuring over a dozen challenges similar to those seen on the popular TV program, American Ninja Warrior.
"It is something for all age groups," Visser said, adding that Fitset Ninja staff will be on-site to help match skill levels to obstacles making sure everyone feels "challenged and excited".
Another new event and the one Visser is perhaps the most excited about, is the Global FMX Motocross Show.
The Global FMX athletes will perform Saturday and Sunday with shows at 3:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m, respectively.
"It is a world-class show that features former X Games athletes who perform some amazing stunts with their dirtbikes, with some of the stunts and jumps taking the riders 50 to 75 feet in the air," she said. "One of our society members saw a performance in Hinton, and he knew we had bring them to Barrhead. Lucky for us, because of their popularity, they perform all over North America, and they only had one-weekend date available, that of our fair."
Another popular event making its return to the fair after a multi-year hiatus is the "Smokin' Paddle Barbecue Cookoff".
Although Visser noted that the competitors will begin cooking the night before the fair, fairgoers, for a nominal fee, will get a chance to taste the barbecuers' wares and vote on their favourite on Saturday at the taster's choice event at 4:30 p.m.
In addition to the tasters' choice event, fairgoers on both days will have a wide variety of food choices through multiple concessions and food trucks.
The rodeo begins at 5 p.m. The event is part of the Wildrose Rodeo Association (WRA) with competitors vying for points which go towards seeing who will qualify for the finals in September. On Sunday, the rodeo starts at 1 p.m.
Kicking off the rodeo is a new event, a mini chuckwagon race with competitors coming from across the province, and as always, during intermission, popular children's events such as the calf scramble, boot race and sheep riding will make their appearance.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., gymkhana competitors will compete for prizes and bragging rights in the Ag Barn.
Closing Saturday's events in the Bablitz Exhibition Hall at 9 p.m. will be a concert featuring county/rock songwriter and artist Travis Dolter. Tickets are $20.
Visser said in February, at the Alberta Ag Society convention, they were able to see Dolter perform, and they knew they wanted to bring him to Barrhead.
"We knew people would love him," she said.
Closing out the fair on Sunday following the rodeo at 4:30 p.m. will be a heavy horse pull.
“We have put a lot of effort to make sure the fair is a success and that everyone who attends leaves entertained," Visser said. "For the price of admission, we believe that you get a lot of value, and we hope everyone else thinks so too."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
