By the time you’re reading this, the Lloyd Ex Fair will have officially kicked off.
The fair is something I look forward to every year. This year, I will be in Calgary taking in my first Stampede, which I am also very excited about.
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But, in my column this week, I wanted to touch on the local fair a little bit.
Looking back at some old stories about the fair, it’s lovely to see the streets and fairgrounds packed with folks.
I found a story from 1996 that I think would be of interest now.
The parade and first day of the fair was under some pretty heavy rain. What didn’t surprise me was the number of people that were lining the streets to still see the parade.
Umbrellas, tarps and the like helped keep Border City residents dry while they took in the parade.
The rain didn’t let up as the fairgrounds opened and it led to fewer people attending the first day. The fair quickly bounced back, with thousands of people attending various events and enjoying the rides.
I dug into the history of the Lloyd fair pretty extensively last year, from its beginnings to where we are now. This year, I wanted to talk about my favourite things I’ve experienced at the fair.
In 2024, I had just arrived to the Border City and got the opportunity to rip around in a golf cart and judge parade floats.
I gave out the wrong prizes and felt pretty bad about that, but I luckily redeemed myself in the second year, thanks largely to a much easier single-prize format.
I’ve seen so many amazing shows, the hobby horse races were a personal favourite last year, and I’m sad I won’t get the chance to compete this year.
Mural Fest was a welcome addition, and this year, the Farmer Games is new and should make a splash.
No matter what you’re into, the fair has something for you. I can’t wait to be back next year to take in the 2027 fair.
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