Castor was a busy place over the weekend of Aug. 18-19.
The 2023 edition of the Castor Fair was back and by all accounts a great success.
According to organizers, entries were up across all categories; photography convener Stacy Holland said that with the number of photography entries she had there was one point she was unsure they would all fit on the display boards.
Castor’s Fair had a “soft start” on Aug. 17, which is when the Castor Community Hall was opened for people submitting crafts, produce, grains, or other handy-work to drop off their items.
On Aug. 18, the Castor Community Hall was re-opened around 5 p.m. for a roast beef supper put on by Castor’s the Stuffed Potato Co. The supper was $20 and included salad, mashed potatoes and a dessert.
Once everyone had finished eating, they were free to wander the Castor Fair bench show. A number of tables were set up in the back half of the Castor Community and on the stage showcasing the hundreds of entries received in the 2023 show.
According to Holland, the photography section alone had an increase of around 100 entries and overall entries numbered around 1,100, up from 450 in 2022.
“We were thankful to have School Art and Writing return to the fair,” said Holland, via an email release.
“The community came out in full force.”
After the Fair closed its doors that evening, the community was invited to the Castor Curling Club where the Family Dance had been moved indoors due to inclement weather; the music was sponsored by Castor and District Family and Community Support Services, and the concession was run by the Busy Beaver Daycare.
The Castor Fair reopened its doors bright and early on Aug. 19 for a free pancake breakfast being run by the Castor and District Agriculture Society. Outside, the weather was significantly better and allowed for the planned kids’ bounce house, glitter tattoos and face painting to go ahead in the Community Hall parking lot.
Also set up in the parking lot was a display by Malcolm Bissett, a Canadian military veteran with a travelling display showcasing tanks in World War Two and in particular the Dieppe Raid.
At 10 a.m. the street in front of Dark Knight Electric was blocked off and the Castor Cruise-in raced into town. This year saw 50 vehicles from all over Central Alberta come to town for the show and shine, with the furthest coming from Oyen, Alta.
For those getting hungry checking out the displays and car show downtown, there were plenty of options to be had. Castor’s Chinese restaurant, The Green Island, was open for business; in addition, the car show partnered with the Castor Legion to put on a barbecue lunch and Home Hardware hosted a barbecue in support of Castor Minor Sports.
Shortly after 1 p.m., people began to stake out their sections of the downtown sidewalk in preparation for the parade. The parade kicked off at 1:30 p.m. from its marshalling point at Theresetta School before winding its way through downtown and then back again. The parade was well attended by both spectators and entries.
Wrapping up a busy Fair weekend, the Castor Museum opened its doors from 2-4 p.m. after the parade concluded.
