The Weyburn Fair Days are coming up, set in the days after the lifting of restrictions on July 11, and this will provide city and area residents with the first opportunity to have a big celebration without masks or group sizes to worry about.
Running from Thursday, July 15 to Sunday, July 18, there will be a number of events and attractions for people of all ages to enjoy.
The first thing we ought to keep in mind is, don’t make comparisons. This year’s event is different in many ways.
This year’s edition of the Fair won’t have the 4-H activities included, as the clubs in the area have just had their achievement days and interclub show from July 3 to 6.
There were also some events that, due to the pandemic, were cancelled, such as the chuckwagon races and the Souris River Rodeo.
But, with this said, there is still a nice list of events, including barrel-racing on Friday night, the DQ Kids Rodeo on Saturday, a midway, a trade show, baseball, the beer gardens, and the Soo Line Cruisers car show.
The showcase event of past fairs, the Rumble in the Ring Demo Derby, will be held on Sunday, July 18, giving us the opportunity once again to fill the grandstands, and there will be food trucks providing sustenance and refreshments.
Would it be “fair” to say this is an event we can enjoy just for the sheer joy of freedom, being together with our friends and neighbours, and no worries about staying six feet/two metres away from each other?
This pandemic has been hard on everyone, right across all age groups, all communities and every country around the world, and for us in Saskatchewan, it’s time to put it aside and move on.
Don’t worry so much if other provinces aren’t quite at the same spot we are, eventually this new-found freedom will be in place for everyone.
For now, we need this, the opportunity to celebrate and begin to live again as a community. We’ve been living our lives, sure, but mostly as individuals or as family units, in “bubbles”.
There will be other events in area communities also, such as the Deep South Museum day at Ogema (on July 11th, no less), and at the end of July, Midale will once more host their tractor parade and fair. Get out there and enjoy yourself, and remember: don’t take this for granted!
