For more than a century, people have been making their way to the Lakehead to celebrate the annual fair.
Although it’s come a long way since 10-cent admission and auto races, the 122nd Canadian Lakehead Exhibition will have something for everyone when it starts up next month.
“We have a fair that provides family coverage. We have babies. We have teenagers, moms and dads and grandma and grandpa. We have a fair for them to come and see,” 2012 fair chair Ralph Scharf said.
One of Canada’s oldest exhibitions, the fair was an agricultural-only event until 1923. The lot on May Street used to have barns and even a race track.
“Those days are changed. We’re now into computer sciences on how to operate a farm,” Scharf said.
Even the milking cow, one of many children’s attractions at the Kids World exhibit, is electronic.
“It doesn’t kick,” Scharf said smiling. “Not like the one when I was a child.”
There will be two stages of entertainment, arts and crafts, competitions galore and even professional chefs along with the dozens of rides and games that draw up to 65,000 people every year. Scharf said it’s the best attended event in the city.
“I think it’s more of a tradition,” he said.
Advance tickets go on sale Wednesday at all Thunder Bay Metro stores.
The fair runs from Aug. 8 to Aug. 12.
