The Carp Fair ~ "The Best Little Fair in Canada"

It's a lovely little fair, very typical of our country fairs, and due to its close proximity to Ottawa, it gets more traffic. I like that it's well organized and it has an excellent horse show. And it has been running since 1863, pre-dating Canadian Confederation.

I left my home at 1 pm today and was in the parking lot, a farm field, 15 minutes later. I bought my entrance ticket and climbed onto an old school bus. As usual, they have a fleet of shuttles and buses to take visitors the short distance to the fair grounds.

Once inside the gates, the rides are straight ahead but I want to see what's in the show rings. We head left.

And there are the beaver tails! I better explain so as not to frighten you, that beaver tails are a flat unleavened pastry unique to this area. They are sooo good!

In the ring, they were judging Clydesdales. Usually, I come to the fair on Sunday to see the finals of the heavy horse competitions. I love to see the big 8-horse hitches compete, horses hooves thundering around the arena as they pull shiny carts decorated for the occasion, but it's raining on Sunday.

I skirted the ring past the mural painted on the back of the covered stands.

Now that is an impressive pumpkin!

It's an agricultural fair so I get to show you animals. These are young holsteins.

I didn't see the young lady napping with her pet, probably competing in the 4-H shows.

Oooh, and here is a booth where I could get poutine. That's french fries with gravy and cheese curds, a traditional treat from Quebec.

Another big pumpkin. The kids were climbing on it!

More pumpkins but no signs of a pumpkin competition.

I entered a tent with Clydesdale stalls. Here, everyone is petting the baby.

Not his best angle.

In another ring, I assumed this was some type of synchronized dressage where the riders and their mounts competed in pairs.

There are all kinds of things for sale.

It's a Friday afternoon. I imagine the shuttles will be very busy tomorrow, but today he can stop for a chat.

These are the winning Percherons, gorgeous.

Now back around the ring to head over there.

Noise and fun.

It's not a fair without treats but I'm actually heading inside to the exhibits.

I know, I know, you all want to see the rides!

Nothing says "fair" like a merry-go-round.

A beautifully painted horse on the merry-go-round.

A train for the younger kids.

Something for the adventurous types.

Test your climbing skills, win a prize!

We're in the heart of the midway.

A slide.

I walk past booths of food and clothing.

I was torn between showing you a beaver tail and the old standard back bacon on a bun. The bacon won! I sat in the bleachers to watch the horses again.

This percheron stallion took home the big prize.

Goats. We haven't seen enough animals yet.

Hi there!

A jersey in the "beauty parlour."

What a beauty!

This is a class of junior handlers.

And, bonus, this guy is going to clean my gutters.

It's the end of my visit.

References

The Carp Fair official website

Images

Photo from my Canon SX620 HS in Carp, Ontario, Canada.

I hope you enjoyed the fair!
@kansuze

[//]:# (!pinmapple 45.34684 lat -76.03811 long Carp Fairgrounds (weekly market and annual fair) d3scr