Just because the Salmon Arm Fair is a fall tradition with more than 100 years in operation doesn’t mean the line-up remains the same.
Along with the old favourites, there’s plenty of new fare to entice patrons through the gates.
New this year is the pizza eating contest, sponsored by Dough Boyz. There are two categories: junior, which is ages 8 to 12 and senior for those aged 13 and older.
Potential participants need to enter their name at Dough Boyz Pizza on Shuswap Street.
For the final entrants, five contestants will be randomly drawn for each category. Entries are being accepted until Sept. 7. Contestants will have seven minutes to eat as much cheese pizza as possible. All participants get a free day pass to the fair and a gift from Dough Boyz. Winners will receive a prize package. The contest will run Sunday, Sept. 13 on the Memory Lane Stage. Juniors will run at 1 p.m. and the senior class is set for 3 p.m.
For horse lovers, the fair is presenting Thundering Impact, which is a drill team with a difference. Instead of a thoroughbred or Arabian, this team features heavy horses – Clydesdales and Percherons, for example. The team is from Maple Ridge and is sure to impress with their routines. The team will perform two shows each day, often ahead of the popular mini chuckwagon racers.
Also new to the fair is the Amazing School Day Race, which will see groups of students from 16 different elementary schools participating in fun stations including cow milking, butter making, gold panning, creating balloon animals, bee-keeping and racing zucchinis. As a side note, the fair is in search of extra zucchinis for the races, so if you have some to donate, contact the fair office at 250-832-0442.
Dogs are also back on deck for the fair, with obedience demonstrations and duck herding demonstrations.
The kids area will feature some new events, entertainment and displays with gold panning, magician Clinton Grey and the Farmer for a Day program, which will feature interactive displays for kids to learn about agriculture. Zucchini races will also take place on Saturday and Sunday.
As well, there will be a special kids cupcake decorating on both Saturday and Sunday and a cake decorating event in the Artisan Building on Saturday.
Sunday will feature both llama and goat obstacle and agility courses with the chance for crowd participation.
Back for this year is the poultry division, with a number of classes for the feathered set.
The ever-popular Shuswap Idol competition will continue and this year’s finalists have already auditioned and will be ready to perform. They include Arianna Vrieling, Carson Venne, Cole Levesque, Elizabeth Joy, Guy Fredric, Laura Close, Lena Arkell, Mara Baker, Megan Abel, Megan Lauridsen, Paul Kinnunen and Shelly Desautels.
New to the entertainment this year will be Dan the One-Man Band who, as his name suggests, single-handedly plays music from the Great Depression right through to today’s hits.
“We’ve had a chance to see him perform and he is really great, super entertaining,” says Star MacGregor, chairperson of the fair. “I think the crowds are going to love him.”
And embracing the latest fad in photography the Selfie contest has been added.
To enter the Selfie competition, email your 1 MB or less photo in jpg format to myselie@shuswapphotoarts.com, including your name and age, by Aug. 31. All qualified photos will be digitally displayed during the Fair. No professionally shot photos. For further rules and details please see the Fair Book or go to the Fair website www.salmonarmfair.com.
Back due to popular demand will be the Global FMX Motocross show, set up on 5th Avenue between the two sides of the fairgrounds.
“They might not be new, but they thrill everyone with their stunts,” says MacGregor. “They were the most requested thing to see again, because they are so thrilling to watch.”
Always popular with kids of all ages, Shooting Star Midway opens Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. and noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Save $10 when you buy Shooting Star Midway wristbands from Askew’s in Salmon Arm from Sept. 7 to 10, at a cost of $25 for one day's unlimited midway rides.
Ride wristbands are available on-site for $35 per day.
Daily admission to the fair itself is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors, $9 for youth aged 6-17 and $32 for a family. Children under five are free. Three-day passes are also available.