After two years of virtual or scaled-back events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cobble Hill, Salt Spring and Luxton fall fairs are back in full swing.
In Cobble Hill last year, participants showed their wares and creations online to compete for prizes, said Roger Painter, president of the Cobble Hill Farmers Institute.
This year, however, the one-day fair — now in its 113th year — will be in person, running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Cobble Hill Hall, lat 3550 Watson Ave. It can be reached by following Hutchinson Road off the Trans-Canada Highway.
“It’s really in the centre of the Cobble Hill Village,” said Painter. “We’ve got some big signs, flashing signs on the highway.”
The day starts with a parade and pancake breakfast before the full event gets going,
“There’s concessions and there’s 4-H animals and, of course, all of the wonderful items people have put in for contests.”
That includes baking, fruits and vegetables and wine, said Painter, adding one of the features this year is honey. “We’ve taken our main stage and we have a huge honey display there, and a real bees’ nest is being brought in by one of the beekeepers.
“All indications we’re getting is that we’re expecting quite a good crowd.”
He said the Cobble Hill organization kept busy during the pandemic with projects including making meat pies. “We sold tens of thousands of them,” Painter said.
Cobble Hill kicks off the fall fair season, with several others coming in the coming weeks — including the Saanich Fall Fair on Sept. 3-5.
The Salt Spring Fall Fair is back on track, as well, but has had to reschedule due to a conflict with the fair dates in Cowichan, said Marguerite Lee, president of the Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute board of directors.
She said the 2021 fair was curtailed due to COVID-19 and the 2020 fair was cancelled.
Salt Spring’s 2022 event is being held Sept. 10 and 11 at the fairgrounds at 351 Rainbow Rd. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
“We are planning on having a full fair,” Lee said.
The annual Luxton Fall Fair is also set to proceed as it normally would, said volunteer Sandy West. She said it’s ready to go Sept. 23 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sept. 24 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sept. 25 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Luxton Fairgrounds, 1040 Marwood Ave.
“COVID’s not an issue anymore [in terms of the fair], but everybody’s cautious of it.”
All of the usual attractions like agricultural exhibits and antique equipment will be there, she said.
