The 139th annual Dresden Exhibition is just around the corner.
The Dresden Agricultural Society has a full slate of activities planned for the event running at the Dresden Raceway and Fairgrounds from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27.
Lucille Laprise, president of the Agricultural Society, says they are poised for a fun-filled weekend.
“This year we are celebrating 139 years,” she said. “People come back to the fair on the weekend and they see their families and friends that maybe they haven’t seen in a while. We find a lot of families come down on fair weekend to visit their families down here and they always attend the Exhibition at the same time. They get to see everybody and visit at the same time… it’s like homecoming week. We love to have everybody come back.”
Laprise added: “There is always so much to walk around and see and do. We have a lot of the same but we also have some new things coming on. It is going to be the place to be of course for the weekend.”
Laprise said the Friday night entertainment is going to be the mini-rods.
“We haven’t had them for quite a few years at our Exhibition,” she said. “We’re also having our parade. We marshal at 5 p.m. and the parade starts at 6 p.m. After that we are going to have our opening ceremonies, which is going to be announcing the new 2014 Ambassador. That is always quite exciting. We’re going to do that on Friday night instead of Saturday.”
Laprise added: “Of course we are going to have the announcement of the fair princess and the fair prince. We’ve got all the exhibitors that are in the arena, that are going to be showing off their items. You’ve got everything the kids have made over the years, the flower show and much more.”
Laprise said on Saturday, “it is going to be the baby show.
“It’s always a big crowd pleaser also, everybody loves to see those beautiful little babies. It’s on Saturday instead of Sunday. Saturday night the big entertainment is going to be the Demolition Derby… everybody loves a demolition derby,” she said.
“We have Carter Shows, with the midway and the rides and games. They always have some really neat rides. The last couple years they’ve been bringing some really bigger rides. Carter Shows is always an excellent show. We’re really pleased to have them working with us.”
Laprise sauid other event will be taking place Saturday, inluding: Muttin Bustin’, the Teddy Bear contest, the horse show, the sheep show, the cattle show, the pedal pull for the kids.
“The Muttin Bustin’ that is always a real neat thing for them to do, they have a lot of fun with it. We have some sheep and the kids try and ride the sheep and the only thing to hang on to is the sheep fur. Some of the kids slip off, but they don’t get hurt. It’s an awful lot of fun, the kids just love it.”
Laprise said come Sunday, it is going to be race day at the Dresden Raceway.
“We are going to have our 10-card race day on Sunday afternoon,” she said. “We’ve got a fun-filled weekend coming up.”
Laprise added they are still working on bringing even more attractions to this years fair.
Here is a complete list of the activities coming up:
Friday, July 25
5 pm Carter Shows Midway opens
6 pm Parade start
7 pm Opening Ceremonies (auditorium) crowning of 2014 Ambassador!
7:30 pm Lambton Kent Mini Pullers (grandstand)
Family Night! admission $5 (under 5 free) BEER TENT
Saturday, July 26
9 am Speed Show–Dresden Saddle Club
10 am Carter Shows Midway opens
4H Cattle Show
Arena opens
Pet Show
11 am Animal Rescue
Teddy Bear Buddies
Spinning Demonstration (arena)
1 pm Light Horse Show–Dresden Saddle Club
Baby Show registration
1:30 pm Baby Show
3 pm Pedal Pull
4 pm Muttin Bustin (behind grandstand)
6:00 pm Doors & Bar open at grandstand BEER TENT
6:30 pm Demolition Derby admission $10 Kids $5
Sunday, July 27
9 am Inter-County Sheep Show
10 am Carter Shows Midway opens
Arena opens
1 pm Breeder Sheep Show
Live Harness Racing
3 pm Arena closes
4 pm Exhibitors pick up items
