A long-standing agricultural show is now on in Antigonish- the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition is celebrating its 159th year.
Shaun Smith, acting manager tell us, the five-day show usually sees 9,000-10,000 people enjoy the festivities that has everything from craft displays to rides, dogs and horse shows.
“This year is the first time we will have a goat show. It’s open to all owners of goats across the province. It’s the first and it’ll be the largest one in Atlantic Canada,” says Smith.
Another new event is the lumber sport which involves cutting and tossing wood.
Other activities include the tug of war, ATV obstacle course and all kinds of entertainment.
There will also be a renaming of the draft horse barn to remember Donald McClellan, their manager of 51 years who passed away in December.
Midway rides
A huge draw for the crowds is typically the midway rides.
This year, Smith says, there were scheduling conflicts, and they went with a different company that caters strictly to youth.
“It’s the small rides. There’s to tilt-er-whirl here. There’s no Ferris wheel here. Unfortunately, the scrambler is not here. I think the parents and the children, they’ll love it. There’s not rides for the 16 and 17-year-olds,” says Smith.
“It was a big disappointment to us. It’s going to cost us. I feel there’s more to the exhibition than the midway. We should be concentrating on the agricultural aspect of it.”
Water
There is a conservation order for Antigonish, but Smith says, they have hauled in their own water.
“Three thousand litres of water hauled in yesterday and there’s porta tanks set up at all barns and pumps. People will see animals being washed, but it’s all water that being pumped in,” adds Smith.
Upbeat and ready to go
The feel in the air is optimistic, and organizers are ready to make the best of it.
“There’s a little bit of everything here at the exhibition for everybody and it’s a great way to end the summer,” says Smith. “Come around, take the deal and enjoy. It’s the last event of the summer before the kids to back to school.”
It runs until August 31.
