Preparations on-going for 2026 bench show

By Rob Vogt
The second weekend in August will be here before you know it, so planning is well under way by the Claresholm Fair Board for the 2026 Claresholm and District Bench Show.
This year’s bench show will take place on Friday night, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 at a venue that is yet to be determined.
The bench show is an opportunity every year, during Fair Days weekend in August, for people to enter their best baking, art, crafts, photography, and much more in various categories to be judged and prizes awarded.
The categories are outlined in a catalogue which will be available at select locations around town as well as on the town’s website.
Currently the fair board is re-doing the catalogue with some sections being eliminated while others are being added.
As spring starts and people are getting back outside and planting flowers, they are also encouraged to enter their yards and gardens in the various sections of the bench show, such as the decor section and balcony gardens.
Yard and garden judging will take place in the summer, on July 18.
As they continue planning, the fair board has undergone some renewal, with a new board and a new logo.
The new board is:
• Stephanie Norby, president;
• Syd Gray, past president;
• Lindsay Douros, secretary;
• Kathy Sandy, treasurer.
The fair board is always looking for volunteers as well, to sit on the board and also for two to three hours on the days of the bench show.
To learn more about the bench show, the next fair board meeting is Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. in the Bill Simpson Room of the Claresholm Public Library.
Meetings are held the second Monday of the month, and everyone is welcome.