All fun and games as the Carp Fair draws crowds Saturday

More than 60,000 people are expected to visit the Carp Fair this weekend, now in its 162nd year. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

The Carp Fair was in full swing Saturday as thousands came out to enjoy the 162-year-old event.

As rides flip and drop through the air and delightful screams roll out, 11-year-old Jasper Fritch says the midway rides are the best part of the fair.

“My favorite is ‘Freak Out’ because it just gives you chills,” he says. “And you go up super high as well and it feels like you’re floating and it’s just awesome.”

The fair—dubbed “the best little fair in Canada”—is in it’s 162nd year. Organizers say it is a celebration of all things the Carp region has to offer, highlighting local agriculture, the harvest season, and produce.

Faye Potter, the Carp Fair co-president, says about 60,000 people are expected to visit the fairgrounds during the four-day event.

Potter says the fair is all about connecting the community to the food they eat and the farmers who provide it.

“The little kids that come, they’re mesmerized and they honestly think that their food comes from a grocery store. So, this helps their parents to be able to connect that this is actually where the food comes from. These are the guys that grow your crops to make your Cheerios,” Potter says.

Co-president Kyle Rivington says it takes more than 1,000 volunteers to bring the fair together.

“People bring their kids to help park cars, and then the kids bring their kids and it just passes on. And it’s like a real source of pride for the whole community,” he says.

Carley MacBean brings her kids every year. Connecting with animals is a big draw for her family.

“Celebrate fall. It’s always a tradition. It’s a good time,” she says. “We love looking at all the animals and the horses and the cows.”

Joseph Wright is bringing his four-year-old daughter Dorathy Wright for the first time after coming to the fair as a child himself. He says it’s important that kids connect with rural life.

“This kind of brings things to nature and kids need to have that instilled in them,” he explains.

With food, rides, games, and evening concerts as well, thousands are coming out throughout the weekend.

Patrick Morin is the owner of the Great Canadian Poutinerie. He’s had a truck selling his poutines at the fair for four seasons and says on a day like today he expects to sell about 1,000 poutines.

“This is the best free advertisement you can have, just living it,” he says. “People look out for the food every year.”

He says he’s watched the event grow every year and it’s important for him to be part of it and the community.

“Continuously expanding,” he explains. “The self investment that they put back in is crazy. Haven’t been here even that long. And you could really see the money being put back in and the expansion and the improvements. The fair board obviously really cares.”

The Carp Fair is on until Sunday.

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