I love fall fairs. I totally don’t get people who haven’t been to the fair in years – how can you not love them? Since I was a little girl, I don’t think I’ve missed a year. I’ll admit, I love the Western Fair, in my hometown of London, Ontario, best of them all. London’s inability to shake off its agricultural background makes the Western Fair a true fall fair with lots of livestock barns and pavillions full of exhibitors selling all manner of weird stuff, from hot tubs to acres of land on the moon.
The SuperEx is Ottawa’s our region’s biggest fall fair, but there are probably a dozen more in each of the small outlying communities like Metcalfe, Richmond, and Navan. It’s the inconveniently-located SuperEx that I never miss, though. It rarely changes, and that probably has a lot to do with why I love it so. And yet, this year was undoubtably one of the best years ever.
I don’t ride the midway rides much anymore, but now the boys are old enough to enjoy them, and I get to ride the merry-go-round for free and without feeling a little self-conscious. I did feel a little self-conscious riding bareback on a pony with Simon, but that was only because the 12-year-old girl leading the horse seemed overly concerned about my welfare, and her partner held on to my leg more tightly than they held on to Tristan riding by himself ahead of us. (And trying to hold on to a pony with your knees while balancing a two-year-old in front of you and still looking confident in your equestrian skills for the full five minute duration of the ride is more complicated than it looks – my knees still hurt.)
This year was the first time we were told that Tristan was too big to ride on a ride. Too big. He’s four years old, for goodness sake. And it didn’t look like a baby ride by any stretch of the imagination – it was a bunch of little cars made up to look like heavy machinery like backhoes and dump trucks and whatnot. What four year old wouldn’t love to do that?
They were both big enough to walk through the fun house by themselves, which I personally thought was a bad idea. They were fine all the way through, but Simon looked increasingly distressed at the noise, and the traffic backed up behind him as he oh-so-slowly navigated the shifting floor panels. I finally had to go in and rescue him to get him through the rolling barrel of a tunnel at the exit. It brought back memories of being scared half to death and getting stuck in a haunted house back when I was eight or nine, and standing at a window crying until my dad came in and escorted me out.
If I had to choose one thing, I’d say it was the games that I love the most. I like the squirt-the-clown’s mouth games, and the roll-the-balls to move your gravatar games, and especially the bet-on-the-horses game where you win loonies instead of dollar-store toys. The big hit for the boys this year was a shiny, multicoloured bead necklace remnant of Mardi Gras. Who would have guessed?
I love the exhibitions, too, especially the animal ones. We were admiring this large yellow snake when the handler draped her (him?) across my shoulders. Very cool, but it was a struggle convincing Beloved to come close enough even to snap this picture.
The most amazing part of the day was how the boys behaved. Granny and Papa Lou were with us, so the boys were deprived of nothing that caught their eyes, but they seemed to take everything with a grace that I don’t see every day. I was so proud of Tristan’s attitude, especially toward Simon. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the noise and the lights and everything else, but his manners never failed. He was especially considerate of Simon, too, making sure he saw the cool stuff and helping him on and off the rides. A whole day at the fair with no squabbles – I didn’t think it was possible.
Best day at the fair ever, no doubt. Even the long walk back to the car, parked a few blocks away in the leafy district, was pleasant. Even Tristan seemed aware of the magic, as he referred again and again to our “most special day” at the fair.
Sure, you can complain about the cost, or the noise, or the inconvenience, but I would – and will – do it all over again just to make sure the boys’ mental photo albums are filled with happy days like these.
I think it’s great that you take such a position to make sure your
“boys’ mental photo albums are filled with happy days like these.”
You made me cry. (in a good way)
I think it’s great that you take such a position to make sure your
“boys’ mental photo albums are filled with happy days like these.”
You made me cry. (in a good way)
Ok, I was going to start talking about my fear of travelling fairs. And truly, I thought we were friends. But I can no longer visit your site until you have been snake free for at least a week. Even typing th word gives me the heebie jeebies. I had to get someone else to load the page and clikc on the comments for me and then close your blog. I love ya, but until this post falls off the page at the end of the week, I have to stay away. 😉 I’ll miss you.
Ok, I was going to start talking about my fear of travelling fairs. And truly, I thought we were friends. But I can no longer visit your site until you have been snake free for at least a week. Even typing th word gives me the heebie jeebies. I had to get someone else to load the page and clikc on the comments for me and then close your blog. I love ya, but until this post falls off the page at the end of the week, I have to stay away. 😉 I’ll miss you.
awww. sounds like you had a most excellent day at the fair. 🙂 I’m glad your boys will have many happy memories for their mental photo albums. 🙂
awww. sounds like you had a most excellent day at the fair. 🙂 I’m glad your boys will have many happy memories for their mental photo albums. 🙂
I used to hit the Ex every year, but it seems so far for us now. 🙁
The Carp Fair is a family favourite here. Like a smaller version of the Ex. And I always enter a pie!
I used to hit the Ex every year, but it seems so far for us now. 🙁
The Carp Fair is a family favourite here. Like a smaller version of the Ex. And I always enter a pie!
I like fairs too. Our church fair is coming up next month and I can’t wait.
Sounds like you all had a great time!
I like fairs too. Our church fair is coming up next month and I can’t wait.
Sounds like you all had a great time!
Looks like your boys mental photo albums were well filled!
I have to admit that I’ve never been to the Ex after all these years in Ottawa (been to the Navan fair a few times though), maybe next year 🙂
Looks like your boys mental photo albums were well filled!
I have to admit that I’ve never been to the Ex after all these years in Ottawa (been to the Navan fair a few times though), maybe next year 🙂
Thank you for sharing your memories and experiences. This time of year I am always completely homesick for the NY State Fair, which I always went to every year as a kid. I am glad there’s another fair-lover out there.
Thank you for sharing your memories and experiences. This time of year I am always completely homesick for the NY State Fair, which I always went to every year as a kid. I am glad there’s another fair-lover out there.
I grew up going to the Western Fair!
I also had the smaller ‘county fair” that we had in Shedden, but it was always a sign of summer ending when we would go in and ride the wooden rollercoaster at the fairgrounds. Did you know they took it down this year?
I wanted to ride it with my son just once, but never got the chance.
I grew up going to the Western Fair!
I also had the smaller ‘county fair” that we had in Shedden, but it was always a sign of summer ending when we would go in and ride the wooden rollercoaster at the fairgrounds. Did you know they took it down this year?
I wanted to ride it with my son just once, but never got the chance.
Kim – no!!! They took it down? That’s a shame.
Hey, I’ve been to Shedden – went to school with a girl who lived there half time with her dad on a farm, and we went riding there once. Ah, memories!
Kim – no!!! They took it down? That’s a shame.
Hey, I’ve been to Shedden – went to school with a girl who lived there half time with her dad on a farm, and we went riding there once. Ah, memories!
Wonderful memories for sure. I know some people that make the EX the last big blow out of the summer. They collect and take in as many bottle as possible to help pay (Or used to) Now they go with there kids.
Great Memeory for sure.
Wonderful memories for sure. I know some people that make the EX the last big blow out of the summer. They collect and take in as many bottle as possible to help pay (Or used to) Now they go with there kids.
Great Memeory for sure.
Haven’t been to the Ottawa Ex for many years, used to go as a kid. I highly recommend the Shawville Fair coming up this weekend. Rides for the little ones. Sadly my youngest is just about too big for the ‘little kids’ rides, last year she ventures forth onto the big rides. Lots of animals, a petty zoo, rides, music…always a great time.
Haven’t been to the Ottawa Ex for many years, used to go as a kid. I highly recommend the Shawville Fair coming up this weekend. Rides for the little ones. Sadly my youngest is just about too big for the ‘little kids’ rides, last year she ventures forth onto the big rides. Lots of animals, a petty zoo, rides, music…always a great time.
I was very pleased to hear that you and the boys had such a great and memorable time at SuperEX – it is nice to know that our hard work is enjoyed for many different reasons
Thank You
Wayne Roy
Exhibition Manager
SuperEX
I was very pleased to hear that you and the boys had such a great and memorable time at SuperEX – it is nice to know that our hard work is enjoyed for many different reasons
Thank You
Wayne Roy
Exhibition Manager
SuperEX