HYMERS, Ont. – Residents flocked in droves to the Village of Hymers this weekend to attend a local summer staple that’s been happening annually for 111 years.
The Hymers Fall Fair has been held since 1912, touts itself as a a “true classic Country Fair.” and has been the place to go to see contests, horse and cattle shows, and to chat with friendly people since its inception.
Erin Laforest, president of the fair, said that she was impressed with this year’s turnout despite the temperatures this weekend.
“We're trying to beat the heat here and it's amazing how many people have turned out for the event given the heat,” she said. “But we have some amazing volunteers running the booths and just really putting their best foot forward to bring the fair to everybody and I really commend them for that.”
The fair featured numerous activities for kids, many exhibits, shows, markets, food, music, bingo, and competitions like the nail driving contest.
“It's amazing to still see so many people out on the grounds, you know, just that love for the fair, it keeps it going,” said Laforest.
“We're strictly an agricultural fair and it's really wonderful, you know, without a midway, without a beer gardens, we still managed to get lots of people out here that just truly love that homegrown, down to Earth, agriculture.
The fair is run primarily by dedicated local volunteers like Diana Bockus who has been volunteering alongside her husband since 1982 and said that what brings her back year after year is the camaraderie of all the people that come.
“It's the people that make the fair. It's the people, it's the food. It's getting to see people who everyone comes to Hymers Fair to see the people they haven't seen for a whole year so everybody meets everybody,” she said.
The fair continues on Monday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and for more information including directions, visit the fair’s website.
