WEYBURN — A full slate of activities and attractions will be available for the 115th edition of the Weyburn Fair Days, as well as the 82nd annual 4-H Days, featuring the Regional 4-H Show.
The 4-H Show began on Monday, and will wrap up today, July 3, with the 4-H Interclub Fed Calf Sale and 4-H Interclub market lambs and goats sale, starting at 2:30 p.m. in the Souris Valley Industries Show and Sale Arena.
The Weyburn Fair will run from Thursday, July 4 to Saturday, July 6, kicking off with the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce’s Parade, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Those entering the parade need to enter Fifth Avenue North at 13th Street, and the parade will start off down Fifth Street to First Avenue.
The parade will go over to Second Street, go down to Prairie Avenue, then it will travel to the Court House at Third Street and head south through the downtown core area to Railway Avenue, and will then go back north up Second Street to Bison Avenue and finish at Government Road.
“This year at Weyburn Fair Days, we have a lot jam-packed into three days,” said Brandie Fisher, Ag Society director of media relations and advertising. Along with her favourites, like the midway and all the food vendors and our beverage gardens, she there are a couple new attractions and expanded attractions.
“For the kids, Tractor Town is located in the Sports Arena, where the kids can drive around in the little tractors and maze. There’ll also be some hands-on exhibits to go along with the ag theme. Household arts will also be in the Sports Arena,” said Fisher, noting the Ag Society has a new director for this feature, and she’s eager to see all the entries that will be coming in.
“Our trade show last year had 11 tables, and we are up to approximately 30 tables, so there will be good shopping there. Our Souris River rodeo will be held on the Thursday and Friday. Last year we were one of the top rodeos with the highest entries, so that’s something to be proud of, and we want to do it again. Before the rodeo on the Thursday, the Truco Trick Riders will be performing, which includes some local girls,” said Fisher.
“This year, we also have the mini horse show, which I have never seen so I’m excited.”
The gates for the exhibition grounds will open at 3 p.m., including food vendors, displays, and the petting zoo, with the midway, brought by Canuck Amusements, to open at 4 p.m.
The Truco Trick Riders group will have a performance at 6:15 p.m., just before the start of the Souris River Rodeo at 6:30 p.m.
The trick riders will include Weyburn member Charlize Hallberg, along with team members Jordanna White, Bailey Steeves, Shayda King and Kyla Dyer, fresh off shows at Strasbourg and Estevan.
The slack performances for the rodeo will start at 8 a.m. on Friday, and the mini horse show will start at 9 a.m. in the Big Barn.
The gates open at 11 a.m., and food vendors and midway open at noon. There will be safety zone demonstrations throughout the day.
The petting zoo will open at 1 p.m., along with knocker balls, and a mini horse show will be held in the rodeo arena from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
A kids tractor pull is at 4 p.m., the Open Mike Show goes from 5 to 9 p.m., and the Souris River pro rodeo starts at 6:30 p.m.
The band Tequila Mockingbird will play at the saloon starting at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the Catholic Church parish food booth will be open for breakfast at 8 a.m., and the Souris River DQ Kids Rodeo starts at 9 a.m. followed by mutton busting.
A mini horse competition starts at 9 a.m. in the Big Barn, and a trade show with 30 vendors will be held in Exhibition Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The food vendors and displays will open at 11 and the midway opens at noon.
The Deep South barrel-racing competition starts at 1 p.m. in the rodeo arena, a kids tractor pull is at 4, and the ever-popular Rumble in the Ring demo derby starts at 6 p.m. The event will include heats for the demo derby, quad pulls and lawn mower tractor races.
The day will end with the band Switch providing live music at the saloon, starting at 9:30 p.m.
“We reached out online to see what people wanted more of, and it turns out people wanted more music, so we have a band Friday night and Saturday night for entertainment in the beverage gardens. The Rumble in the Ring is back with the demo derby, lawnmower races, and quad pulls. The grandstand is always packed for this event,” said Fisher, adding, “The Weyburn Agricultural Society board members have been working very hard and keep coming up with ideas, so pop down to the Fair as there may be some entertainment not announced.”
In regard to volunteers, she noted the Fair is still in need of people who are able and willing to lend a hand.
“It is a busy time of year being the first week in July, but we are still in need of volunteers. There are a few gate shifts, a few beverage garden shifts and knock ball shifts,” she said.
A daily ride wristband will cost $40, and admission to the fair grounds is $10 for adults and $5 for children and youth aged six to 17, with five and under getting in for free. Cash only is accepted at the gates, and there are no refunds available.
Parking will be available on the grounds through the south gate for $2 a day.
