The Battlefords Agricultural Society's Northwest Territorial Days is fondly known as "the fair" to most, the "exhibition" to some and, to the uninitiated or new to town, "the ex."
The 126th annual fair begins with the parade on Monday, Aug. 12. Form-up is at the Civic Centre, and the floats and entries are due to leave the grounds at 7 p.m. With this being the 100th anniversary of North Battleford, the centennial will definitely get a nod from many entries.
The next day, Tuesday, Aug. 13, things get underway at the fairgrounds, with chariot races at the grandstand at 3 p.m.
The midway, operated by West Coast Amusements, should be open by 6 p.m., and shortly thereafter the chuckwagons will be running at the grandstand.
Wednesday, Aug. 14 starts out with the 4-H light horse day in the big ring at 10 a.m., while a horseshoe tournament gets underway at the horseshoe pit area.
The exhibits in the Agriplex and Agrivilla open at noon. There will be horticulture and competitive exhibits in the Agriplex and commercial exhibits open in the Agrivilla throughout the fair days. These exhibits are always a popular drawing card. In addition to horticultural displays, there will also be art, photography, cooking, sewing, needlework and hobby work. These exhibits are judged and prizes are awarded.
The midway will open at noon Wednesday as well as each day following. Various entertainers begin their shows Wednesday, including Little Ray's Reptiles, Milord High Dive Act, Bowmanville Zoo and Camel Rides and 4 Paws K9 Dog Show. They will be performing through to the end of the fair, and as always there will be a petting farm in the Little Red Barn.
Of course, there will be more grandstand action, with chariot races in the afternoon and chuckwagons in the evening. The draft horse events also get started Wednesday afternoon with showmanship classes and team driving competitions in the small ring. Wednesday winds up with the Saskatchewan Express at the grandstand at 8 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 15 entertainment continues as do light horse and draft horse events. There will also be a miniature horse show at 1 p.m. The chariot races last showing is Thursday at 3 p.m. and the chuckwagon finals are at 6:30 p.m. The grandstand show Thursday is hypnotist Vernon Lewis.
Friday, all horse events will be winding up, and there will be a sheep show in the small ring at 1 p.m.
The final grandstand show will be the demolition derby, and fireworks at dusk will bring this year's fair to a close.
