SHEGUIANDAH—The Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah will play host to the Sheguiandah Fall Fair this coming weekend, starting Thursday, September 11 (from 4 to 8 pm) and Friday, September 12 (from 10 am to 4:30 pm) for dropping off exhibits and Saturday, September 12 for public viewing.
Fall fairs are a cherished rural tradition, with friendly competitions over baking and preserves sometimes spanning generations and offering youth a chance to celebrate their rural roots.
“Come out and enjoy the fall fair and the barbecue on Saturday from 10 am until 3 pm,” said Sheguiandah Fall Fair committee chair Linda Erskine. “We have categories for everything from root vegetables and fruit flowers, handcrafts arts and crafts, baking, heritage and photography to just name a few. We have a large grouping for youth, starting at ages four, five and six and going right up to high school age.”
Ms. Erskine explained that the youth projects get more than bragging rights when they win, show or place with their exhibits. “When they win, they not only get a ribbon, (where the adults just get ribbons), but the youth actually win a little bit of money as well.”
Ms. Erskine explained that the fall fair committee has been working to increase the number of exhibits coming in from youth. “Youth outreach committee member Cindy Tarr went into Little Current Public School in June and did some crafts with the kids,” she said, “and so we’re hoping that lots of the students enter craft projects into the fair.”
“Fall fairs are a very important activity for rural communities,” noted Ms. Erskine, “because it brings families, kids youth—all generations together to see what they have created on the land.”
“We like to show how crafty and talented our youth and our adults on this Island are,” said Ms. Erskine. “And so, it’s really a positive event. And you know, the barbecue is good, and the theme for two years running, last year, and this year, is scarecrow. Anybody who wants to dress up as a scarecrow can come out in their costume and there will be prizes, so feel free to dress up and come out. We have music and we have laughter, and we have burgers and hot dogs and we show off all of the great crafts and we have people doing workshops, so it’s a wonderful, wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.”
There is no cost to entering exhibits in the fall fair competitions or attending the fair. The Sheguiandah Fall Fair is sponsored jointly by the Sheguiandah Fall Fair Committee and the Centennial Museum advisory committee.
Exhibit booklets can be picked up at the town office, the museum and The Manitoulin Expositor in downtown Little Current, or you can call Linda Erskine at 705-282-4283, and she will get a booklet to you. The Sheguiandah Fall Fair is located at 10962 Highway 6 in Sheguiandah, about 10 minutes south of Little Current.
