Fair fun

For fair chairman Ralph Scharf, the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition is all about the younger generation.

“I like to see the excitement of the children as they’re walking up and down the midway and seeing what’s going on in the child’s world,” said Scharf on Monday, previewing the 123rd edition of the summer fair two days before advance tickets go on sale.

“Pretty well everything in the fair is appealing to me. It breaks the summer and makes the summer.”

Last year the CLE drew nearly 62,000 people to the event, from Thunder Bay and throughout the region. Scharf said it’s got a universal appeal that’s ingrained in people’s minds throughout the area.

“I think tradition plays a large part of that. Every family, their father and mother or grandfather and grandmother brought them to the fair,” he said.

“The family comes to the fair. It’s a traditional thing in Northwestern Ontario to enjoy the Lakehead Exhibition Fair.”

This year’s event features plenty of favourites from years gone by, plus plenty of new attractions to delight visitors of all ages.

Scharf said first and foremost is a new ride, the Typhoon, which operators say has become a favourite throughout the circuit.
“It’s supposed to be an exciting ride,” Scharf said.

There’ll be plenty of old favourites returning to the grounds too, he added.

From the baby show to the petting zoo to the agricultural judging shows to cooking, fair food and the entertainment, which this year features Shy-Anne Hovorka, John Mueller’s Buddy Holly tribute, Harlequin and hypnotist James Kellogg Jr., there’s something for everyone, Scharf said.

The youth talent show, redubbed the Future Star competition, will pit 10 of the region’s up-and-coming artists younger than 25 against each other, said organizer Kathy Thompson.

Among the scheduled performers are Trevor Barker, That Echo Band, Isaac Matthews, Evan Pang and Holly Wyder, to name just a few.

They’ll take to the stage on Sunday, Aug. 11.

“We decided to spruce things up this year and give the audience a chance to have their say,” Thompson said.
A people’s choice award will be chosen through audience text voting.

There will also be a youth spotlight stage set up near the midway, designed to encourage more youth to perform.

The five-day CLE is scheduled to begin at noon on Aug. 7.

Advance tickets are available at Metro locations throughout Thunder Bay, starting on Wednesday. They’ll be available until Aug. 6.