Come and attend one of the longest-running country fairs in British Columbia – the Saanich Fair.
Established in 1867, every year more than 45,000 people attend this traditional fall fair. They come to see more than 10,000 entries spread across 70 acres of fairground. Besides agricultural and heritage displays, there’s plenty of original food, and an excitement midway with amusement rides.
The Saanich Fairground relocated from Saanichton to the present site on Stellys X Road in 1992. It takes hundreds of volunteers put on the Saanich Fairm and all concessions during the Fair are non-profit and manned by volunteers of their organization. The main focus of the Fair is to promote agriculture (and food security) over the weekend, so it’s a great way to eat lots of local food, learn about where food comes from, and better understand the farming heritage of the Saanich Peninsula and the South Island.
In case you don’t know where it is, there are directions to Saanich Fair on Google Maps, and there’s also a Facebook page with special deals and the latest news.
Here’s a list of family events and rides at this year’s Saanich Fair:
1. VI BLACKSMITH SHOP
2. DOG SHOWS
(a) Capital Comets Dogsports
(b) AVID
(c) Newfoundland Dog Carting
3. RAINBOW THE CLOWN – Shows & Roaming
4. WEST COAST AMUSEMENTS – Midway
5. ISLAND SAVINGS PENNY SMARTS PROGRAM - Booth and stage show – 10,000 penny giveaway
6. BC FRUIT TESTERS – Main Hall Stage Area
7. MYC DRUM MAKING – Kids’ Zone
8. OLD FASHIONED BUGGIES – Outside Heavy Horse Ring
9. SPARKLES THE CLOWN – Face Painting – Beef Barns
10. BC AVIATION MUSEUM – Helicopter display
11. THE “Q’ RADIO STATION ON LOCATION – outside the Gallery Building
12. FOOD EATING CONTESTS (Main Stage area)
(a) Ice Cream – Island Farms
(b) Lemon Merinque Pies – Peninsula Co-op
(c) Cupcakes – Baking Department
(d) Watermelon
(e) Spam
13. DUCT TAPE CONTEST – 103.1 JACK FM
14. BC AMBULANCE SERVICE DISPLAY – by Info
15. CENTRAL POLICE DISPLAY – Main Gate
16. MODEL BOATS – back of Gallery Washrooms
17. QUE BOLA MAGIC – Stage show and Roaming
18. MANE STREAM VAULTERS – Heavy Horse Ring
19. THE MILKING PARLOUR – beside Beef Barn
20. MASTER GARDENERS – Main Hall Stage
21. VICTORIA CONTAINER GARDENER GROUP - Main Hall foyer
22. VICTORIA CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM – Main Gate
23. FARMER VICKY AND DAISY THE COW – Milking Parlour
24. PIRATE SCHOOL – back of Main Hall
25. SUN & STAR GAZING – Telescopes
26. CRD PARKS – Corner Market
27. MILITARY DISPLAY – Hunter Jumper Field
28. KIDS ZONE – Upper level Main Hall
29. COCA-COLA MINERAL WATER DEMOS – in front of Main Hall
30. FARMERS’ MARKET – front Main Hall – Farm Fresh Produce for Sale
31. THE ‘Q’ MIDWAY PARTY – Midway – listen to ‘Q’
32. MORK & MINDY – Swine Barn
33. MINI PIGS – Swine Barn
34. RARE BREEDS – near Hunter Jumper Field
This post was written on behalf of the Cedarwood Inn, a Sidney BC hotel.
