Rock Creek Fall Fair makes changes to the schedule and grounds
By Shara JJ Cooper
It's time for the 68th annual Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair to roll around and this year organizers are mixing things up.
“This year's event theme is ‘Powered by Volunteers’ and it could not be more appropriate,” said organizer Terry Keough. “Our fair has undergone some struggles over the past few years and it became necessary for the community to vote an entire new board for the organization back in January.”
From these changes, the board currently has the highest ever membership and feel there is a lot of positive energy propelling them forward.
Regular guests will find the usual suspects at the fair: exhibits, displays, vendors, a beer garden, gymkhana events, lawn more races and the midway.
But, organizers are also shaking things up by bringing in more live entertainment. Those that know the song “The Cat Came Back” probably know children’s entertainer Fred Penner. He is scheduled to perform on Sunday, to keep people interested in the schedule on both days.
Other entertainers include country singer Tim Hus on Saturday and Uncle Chris the Clown on Sunday. The Prenell Reichert Band, Laela Heidt, the Cullpeppers and the Timely Wonders will be performing both days.
To encourage more exhibitors, organizers are have upped the ante by offering $500 for first place exhibits, $300 for second and $200 for third place.
“The goal for increasing (the prize) is to try and create some healthy competition throughout the area for people to get as many exhibits as possible into all the fair categories,” said Keough.
He encourages people to enter as much as they want, especially since there is no entry fee.
The entertainment isn’t the only thing being updated by the fall fair board. They have also added a new power house to avoid blowing a transformer, updated the buildings with fresh paint and added more seating.
“We have 200 new picnic tables,” said Keough. “All sponsored by local residents at $200 each and each has a plaque in commemoration of whatever the donor wanted.”
The fair is on Sept. 14 and 15 with the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, at the opening ceremonies on Saturday.
Fair prices are $12 for adults on Saturday and $10 on Sunday. Children aged 6 to 12 are $5 both days and five and under are free. This year a two-day pass is not available. Tickets for the midway are $33 plus tax for a one-day wristband, according to the Shooting Star website. Individual tickets are $1.25 with rides taking 3 to 6 tickets.
