The streets of Westlock will be busier than usual this weekend as folks from all over descend on the town for the 98th annual Westlock & District Agricultural Fair.
As always it is one of the most-anticipated events of the year in the area, and with dozens of events to choose from, nearly everybody will find something to enjoy between Friday and Sunday.
“For $10, they can spend the whole day at the grounds and there’s something there for everyone,” said Westlock Ag Society president Bob Jones.
The theme for the fair this weekend will be “The Family Farm,” which was chosen as the theme because it was once again time to highlight how important families are to farming.
“We just thought, we haven’t had that theme for quite a while,” he said. “It’s an easy one to decorate floats and have a theme for, so we decided on that.”
The action kicks of Friday morning with a pancake breakfast before the parade, which starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Westlock Gospel Church. It will travel west on 97 St., north up 100 Ave., then east on 107 St. Last year’s parade drew 80 entries, and the hope is to have at least that many this year.
“We’re always striving to beat last year’s record on everything,” Jones said.
The midway, always a big draw for the kids, opens up at noon every day in Mountie Park. The chucks and chariots will tear up the track on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 6:30 p.m.
The rodeo, featuring athletes from all over Alberta and beyond, is scheduled to run from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Local athletes the Westlock Red Lions, along with the three other top-four teams in the North Central Alberta Baseball League, will duke it out on Keller Field for coveted spots in the league finals.
On the other side of the old Pickardville Road, there will also be plenty to do.
The hall exhibits and the trade show will be on display in the ag barn from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, then from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday — with a wide variety of activities in that area to take in throughout the weekend, including face painting, psychic readings and a concession.
Many horses and cows will also be on display throughout the weekend, whether in the light horse show on Saturday, the draft horse pull at the track on Friday or the beef cattle show, which runs Saturday.
Near the Canadian Tractor Museum, there will be steam engine threshing demonstrations and a tractor pull, as well as the regular exhibits of the museum on display.
Of course, one must not forget the fiddle competition, some Saturday-night dances to choose from, a cowboy church service on Sunday morning and a demolition derby on Sunday afternoon to cap it all off.
