The Deloraine Summer Fair is taking place this weekend, starting Friday evening and continuing right through to Saturday night.
The annual fair has a list of summer fair favorites for residents and visitors to Deloraine, but when asked which of the events attracts the most attention, Deloraine Ag Society Treasurer, Jessica Vandale, says Saturday evening's Demolition Derby is definitely a crowd pleaser.
The Demo Derby
"The Demo Derby is our biggest event of the weekend," says Vandale. "Last year we had 26 cars, so that was the most cars at any Demo Derby in Manitoba last year and we're expecting over 20 cars again this year. So, we're super excited. We're starting it a little bit earlier, so we're starting at 6:00 pm just to make time for all the cars. It's always amazing to see people flood in for the Demo Derby and fill those grandstands right full!"
If you've never participated in a demolition derby but are itching to try it, the Ag Society has an opportunity to get in on the engine-revving, car-crunching action.
"This year we have a raffle Demo Derby car that we're doing. So, it's sitting kind of at the main corner in Deloraine right now and we're selling raffle tickets for it. Whoever wins gets to actually drive the raffle car. So that's kind of cool because lots of times people want to enter, but they don't have a vehicle to enter. So, it'd be really cool to see someone win that and be able to go in the Demo Derby!"
See the poster below for more information!
$6000 in cash prizes should get those wheels turning to strive to be the last man standing, or rather the last car to escape total destruction!
"Plus we also give out the entry fees as well, depending on how many cars show up," adds Vandale, "So yeah, for sure over $6000 of prizes will be given out and it's definitely attracted some cars over the last couple of years to come back to the Deloraine Demo Derby for a chance to win."
The Highland Heavy Games
The Highland Heavy Games is returning for its second year to the Deloraine Summer Fair, with the day-long competition taking place from 9:30 am to 5 pm. The Games consists of a series of competitions including the stone (much like shot put), weight for distance, the hammer, weight over bar, and the caber toss.
The caber toss is one of the most popular and recognizable amongst the games. It requires the athlete to throw a large section of a tree trunk between 16 to 17 feet long as far as they can. It’s basically a tree that has been cut and stripped of its branches and bark.
The games are a test of strength – and both men and women compete to be named the top Highland Heavy Game champion.
Local resident, Tyrel Hogg, competed in the Highland Heavy Games for the first time last year in Deloraine and is returning again this year.
"It' was really cool," shares Vandale. "Everyone in the stands were cheering him on. It was just so neat! It's not anything we've ever seen before. So just to see the athletes and what they can do, it was really spectacular."
Last year there were close to 9 athletes and this year they're expecting just over 2 dozen. Along with Deloraine contender Tyrel Hogg, they're expecting two competitors from Killarney to try their hand at this unique sport of testing sheer strength and will-power.
"It's really just a lot of really cool things that require a lot of strength, and they have different classes for the women and the men and for the different age ranges as well," she explains. "And then at the end of the day, they announce who had won in these classes. Again, it was so cool to watch. I'm really excited to see it again this year!"
The Car Show and Shine
The parade is always a highlight when community gets to see the creative talents of their fellow community residents and businesses showcase equipment, vintage cars, whimsical floats and so much more.
The antique car show will take place at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon with some of these vehicles participating in the noon hour parade. The car show is in conjunction with the Fair in memory of 18-year-old Jonathan Hofer who was tragically killed in a highway accident in the spring of 2022 just west of Brandon on Grand Valley Road.
Hofer was a member of the Westman Whips Car Club and was known for his blue Ford Mustang.
"He was really big into cars," shares Vandale. "You would see him drive around everywhere in his Ford Mustang, and he just soaked up cars. So, when his family saw that we were doing a car show at the Fair, they reached out to us and asked us if we'd be willing to do it in memory of Jonathan. And of course, all of us jumped on it. So, we're really looking forward to honoring him. And it'll be really cool to see all those cars show up in memory of him."
A new addition to the summer fair this year will be a solid shelter on the ag grounds. The open-sided shed was added just this month with funding assistance from Sunrise Credit Union and Richardson Pioneer sharing their support.
"It's been a long time since a new building has been put up on the fairground. So, we're excited to share that space with everybody this weekend."
What might be the oldest structure on the ag grounds, you might ask?
The grandstand is celebrating 99 years of supporting residents and visitors to the fairgrounds, a true testament to building to make something last over time!
For the full line-up and all the information visit their Facebook Page HERE!
Please see the poster below for a quick list of events and their timeline.