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BURFORD The Burford Fair is making a comeback – albeit a shortened version – after the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“Planning this year has certainly been a challenge due to our current COVID situation,” said Chris Howell, president of the Burford Agricultural Society, the organization that puts on the fair each year.
“We are most concerned about our fair attendees, volunteers and staff.”
The 2021 fair be a two-day event instead of four. It will run at the Burford fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:30 pm each day.
Entry will be allowed only at the north gate. Fairgoers are encouraged to use free parking on the fairgrounds.
Howell said organizers have received a lot of guidance from the Brant County Health Unit to make the event safe. The health unit asked the society to keep attendance to about 3,000 people on the fairgrounds at any given time.
“We will have staff keeping count at the north gate,” said Howell, adding that organizers think the attendance figure is “operationally a workable number.”
He said that, in pre-pandemic times, daily attendance at the fair would average 3,500 people in good weather, dropping to about 2,300 on rainy or cool days.
Howell said the health unit has stipulated that all fair attendees and volunteers must wear a mask while on the fairgrounds property, except when people are consuming food or drink at a concession.
“We will be asking for double vaccination status to enter the (only) exhibit building open this year, but double vaccination is not required to enter the fairgrounds,” he said.
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Highlights of Saturday’s lineup include a classic car show and a demolition derby at 2 pm
“We expect the demo derby will be bigger than usual,” Howell said. “Our promoter tells us that we’re drawing drivers who would have taken part at other fairs that have been canceled.”
Snowmobile grass drag races will take place at 12:30 pm on Sunday, an event Howell said is unique to Burford.
“They line up and run their snowmobiles in a quarter-mile drag and the winner goes home with a nice trophy,” he said.
“The community seems to love it. And, in 2019, we had participants from outside of Ontario. ”
Rounding out Sunday’s events are mighty mini-horse chariot racing, meet and greets with princesses, and a baby show that will be held outdoors under a grandstand tent.
Homeniuk Amusements will operate a smaller midway due to COVID restraints.
Howell said organizers hope the 2022 fair, which will be the 160th edition, will return to the four-day format.
“The BAS felt it was very important to hold the fair this year, and get the community together to celebrate agriculture, animals and Thanksgiving.”
Complete information can be found at www.burfordfair.ca