Fair days – join the fun!

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

Claresholm’s Fair Days will be three days jam packed full of something for everyone to do.
Megan McClung, the engagement coordinator for the Town of Claresholm, is helping coordinate Fair Days.
She said the goal was to have three full days so people would come for the weekend, stay, and see what Claresholm has to offer.
The activities start Thursday with a barbecue at the Credit Union, then kick into high gear on Friday, which McClung describes as a family fun day.
After a pancake breakfast at Cottonwood Village Retirement Residence, all activities will be on the east side of town by the Claresholm and District Museum.
A young entrepreneurs market will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring a wide variety of products all sold by children and youth.
Claresholm Recreation is hosting a kite festival.
They have purchased 100 kites they will be giving out. Families can paint and decorate the kites then fly them.
The inaugural lawn tractor races will start at 8 p.m., with tractors running through an obstacle course and prizes awarded to the winners.
A concession, put on by the Claresholm Arts Society will also open at 8 p.m., leading up to the outdoor movie, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”.
Saturday starts with a pancake breakfast at the Claresholm branch of the Royal Canadian Legion from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. , leading to the Fair Days parade at 11 a.m.
“We’ve had lots of interest (in the parade),” McClung said, adding it is a candy parade so children are encouraged to bring bags for their candy.
A street festival and market opens downtown at noon, with more than 40 vendors, six food trucks, two full bands performing, a dunk tank, balloon artist, sparkle tattoos and so much more.
There will also be an ultimate water fight in Amundsen Park starting at noon, the museum will open a new exhibit at 1:30 and have lemonade on the lawn at 2 p.m., and the Claresholm Lions Club will have beef on a bun at the seniors’ drop-in social centre from noon to 2 p.m.
A drifting demonstration starts at 4 p.m. on the east side of town by the UFA bulk station, leading into an amateur rodeo at the Claresholm Agriplex at 6 p.m.
There is a slow pitch tournament at Millennium Park all weekend, with a beer gardens.
There will also be beer gardens downtown on Saturday during the day, and at night at the amateur rodeo.
Sunday starts with an interdenominational church service in the downtown parking lot at 10 a.m., and culminates with a show ‘n’ shine vehicle show at the Centennial Park ball diamonds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..
“It’ll be a very packed weekend,” McClung said.
She urges everyone to spread the word and invite people from other towns to check out Fair Days.
“It’s very family friendly,” she said.
The theme is “Pitching in: Celebrating together”.
“Everyone is pitching in to make this a great event,” McClung said. “(Pitching in) is what we’ve done the past two years through COVID.”
So, she encourages everyone to check out Fair Days.
“Come celebrate our awesome community,” McClung said. “We have so many groups that are contributing. That’s what’s going to make it an amazing event.
“You definitely don’t want to miss it – it’ll be awesome.
“It’ll be a highlight of the summer.”