Carp Fair - not so much fun

Carp Fair : slick website. 151 years old.

Why, you ask?
They have a huge organisation, with buses taking you to the fairgrounds, a large 34-member Board of Directors. But, they

Lots for sale
-knock-offs?

don't allow backpacks in. Now, hubby needs his medications, water, and his special snacks, as he has health issues that preclude eggs, yeast, dairy foods.

The big, burly security guards were vigilant in refusing to let this 64-year-old man in with an old backpack. He stuck it in the bushes, and I had to carry his water, pills, snacks, along with my camera equipment. My purse was allowed in.

What is with this? Usually, at fairs, you buy market goods, with many stalls around selling all the usual belts, hats, flags. The volunteer at the parking area, a 15 minute walk or a bus ride down the road, said we could probably get in with the backpack. Not so. The security guards were merciless. "Read the signs", they said. By now, the car was down the road.

Now, they let in a family with a backpack, they had a kid in a stroller and bottles and diapers were in it. They let in other with backpacks. What is their assumption? That they don't want food in, as they want you to buy it?

I truly do not understand. Amloda, Inc. guards carefully watch and check each person in.
Is it kids bringing in drugs or alcohol? Or they want people to eat at the concessions?
It's crappy food: sugary,  boiled in oil fattening stuff, and we did not eat there. We went across the street to Alice's cafe, where hubby struggled to find something he could eat. The split-pea soup had no dairy or eggs, thankfully. He couldn't have any bread or buns, though.

One blogger wrote, in 2011,

“People may look at the event and think of all the money we are generating, but the expenses are also huge as the cost of security and policing reached approximately $25,000 this year.”

1. Carp Fair | "Best Little Fair in Canada"

2. Not so much fun. You cannot get near to the horses, which is the part hubby likes. They are large, expensive, registered horses; the Clydes, Percheron, and the like. I can understand protecting them, but it was disappointing. 
   

   1. They do prohibit dogs, which is a good thing, with all the amazing animals.

3. 1. 

      Hubby, 2009 Bracebridge Fair
      This was bliss!

       Volunteers and gates keep you out of the barns, and you cannot get near them. It really is too big a fair for us to enjoy. It is too commercial, too many people hawking questionable goods, and just a zoo! The smaller fairs don't attract as many of the big horses, since it is expensive to haul them there.
4. The best fair we attended was in Bracebridge, where hubby was able to actually touch the horses, which took him down memory lane. As a child, living on the farm, they had big workhorses.
5. Thankfully I had the medium zoom lens with me. I couldn't bring my large one, as it is too heavy to carry. (No backpacks, remember!)

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The barns are busy with other competitions. Lots of small kids.



Goodbye, Carp Fair. We won't be back.

Bracebridge Fair Photo video

I find it easier just to put them all in a video! You can pause, stop and go as you please. Everyone worked so hard to make it a great day.

Animals at the Bracebridge Fall Fair

Kids are are so much fun at the fair. His dad had some wipes, and shared them with a young woman who made a mess on HER face, too!


I am not sure that I like the petting zoo, I guess it gives the town kids an understanding of animals and the food we eat. I am still unsure about zoos in general.



The sign said, "Please wash your hands!" A great idea!

The goats gave me a look, as if wondering who on earth I was and where did I come from?

The cows gave the kids another opportunity to check out the animals.






In the video, the first few seconds are a hoot. The expression on this little kid's face was priceless as he faced a noisy couple of geese who were expressing their concerns.

(I took a screen shot -right.)
I am sure they expected food from him! His dad said some comforting words.

Bracebridge firefighter competition @ Fall Fair

What a hard job. Especially if you are a volunteer!
These men and women are phenomenal.

What was the best of the fair? Well, the firefighters, of course.

Young studs who were competing; their family members cheering them on. Hauling those heavy rolls that dispense water to burning building, up all those stairs. In full gear, with an oxygen tank on their backs.

The volunteers setting up the course each time one person ran through the course. Everyone working together. I remember working out in the gym in Ottawa. Because of my work hours I would meet the firefighters there. Dedication to keeping their bodies in shape to be able to do their jobs.

Discipline and dedication.

Brave young men and women in our region volunteer their time and services. They are fit fighters. They are the people who came to our door, when we called an ambulance as Mom lay dying. Yes, not just the ambulance arrives, but the dedicated firefighters.

As I decided which photos to post, I thought that they deserved the video, too.

Bracebridge Fall Fair - Horses!

What a beautiful day for it! Blue as far as the eye can see. Hubby wanted to see the horses and so we set the alarm and took off for the fairgrounds.













The morning temperature was only 6 C., and so I wore layers. Being still subject to hot flashes I need to be able to, er, um, strip as the moment calls for it! Eventually it settled into a lovely 20, or so, but I took my quilted Muskoka 'suit jacket' to the car, eventually unwrapped my pashmina from my neck, and tied my fleece around my waist. (Sometimes, hot flashes are preceded by cold spells. What can I say?)



These babies were about 6 mos. old, a bit worried about their first fair visit.

The massive Clydes were between 1900 and 2200 lbs. each, from M & M farms.


But, back to the fair. People are so friendly. As I sit and write this, some yahoos are tubing on the lake, and it must be the younger group, as the swearing as they fall off the tube and complain about losing their swim trunks, is painful to my ears. (Yes, I am an old f@rt!) The lake sounds like we are at the ocean, with waves crashing onto the shore. Why was it the people at the fair were so polite, calm and well-mannered? Oh, yes. They've been socialized! What a great thing in which to get your kids involved.


Some participants stand hanging onto the bridle, or sit atop their horse, with a grim look of fear. What powerful lessons they will learn. Discipline. Strength. How to deal with disappointment or failure. They are all lessons! I made sure I smiled at all. You have to take a risk to win, or you will never put yourself into the running and you will always lose!

I met someone who came from Orillia, Faye Rose, one obvious long-time horse show participant, although she told me she hasn't done a show herself in 12 years. She was coaching some of the well-appointed young folks. Like a den mother, I know the advice is appreciated and I fell in love with her right away. There is much to think about, harder still to keep it all in mind as the judge stares you down.

Perfectly willing to share tips with younger participants, we learned much. Even found a horse for sale. As if! Lovely young people dressed to the 9's, handing sun glasses to their mothers, since they knew it wasn't acceptable in the formality of the ring. I love the protocol. (Is that the right word?)

The culture of recreation and sports creates a standard, much celebrated on "What Not To Wear", I wrote a rant on that, too! Amazing how each generation tries to find a style of their own, and 40-somethings try to look as if they are 20-something. These young men and women looked terrific in their dark wash jeans, and rhinestone jackets. They knew what the judges expected.

There were the traditional baking and vegetable contests, quilting, photography and the petting zoo.

Lots to eat. The volunteers cooked up a smashing pancake breakfast. Don't you love those? So great to help out and contribute to their cause.