In only three short days, the 99th edition of the Westlock and District Agricultural Fair will begin.
As has become tradition, the fair kicks off with the parade, winding its way up along Main Street after getting its start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the corner of 97 Street and Highway 44.
Working on the fair’s theme of “Through the Farm Gate,” parade marshal Cheyanne Erickson said she expects to see a wide variety of floats travel along the route, decked out every which way, hopefully to the delight of the crowds lining the route.
Once the parade wraps up, the action shifts to the Westlock Ag Grounds on the west side of the old Pickardville Road, and Mountie Park on the east side.
Throughout all three days, visitors to the fair will have the chance to take in all manner of activities at both locations.
Mountie Park plays host to all the activities at the Ag Track, including Friday’s draft horse pull, the chuckwagon and chariot races all three days, the rodeo on Saturday and Sunday, and the fair’s grand finale — the demolition derby on Sunday evening.
Keller Field will also be a centrepiece of the fair, as the North Central Alberta Baseball League holds its semifinal series there on Saturday and Sunday. Headlining the baseball games will be the hometown Westlock Red Lions, who play at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. on Sunday if necessary.
Over at the Ag Grounds, the rest of the fair will play itself out.
There will be plenty of activities and distractions to keep visitors busy, ranging from perusing the trade show and hall exhibits inside the Ag Barn, through learning just what your future holds by taking in a psychic reading, all the way to experiencing a little body art at the face painting station.
And of course, what is a fair without midway rides? Not much, really. Thankfully, Westlock’s fair will once again host a midway, running all three days starting at 12 p.m. at the Ag Grounds.
Admission to each day of the fair is only $10 for visitors aged 14 and over, $5 for those aged seven through 13, and free for all children six and under. A three-day pass is $25, and is available at the fair office until Aug. 15, and then at the gate on Aug. 16.
Fair admission also provides free entrance to the Canadian Tractor Museum.
