VI Exibition Continuing the Tradition

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People Enjoying Themselves on the Midway

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uploaded by Barbara McPherson

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Today closes another successful chapter in the Vancouver Island Exhibition.  The VIEX has been a fall fair standby since before I can remember and is continuing the small town tradition.  When I was a child, it was the big event of the summer.  Then we participated in the growing of vegetables and progressed to samples of embroidery work.  Collecting and counting ribbons awarded was a big deal at the time. Deciding which rides to take was a delicious agony.

Times have changed. The rides and midway no longer appeal to me.  But some things remain the same.  Yesterday, when waiting in the line up for entry to the fair, the little girl behind me was beside herself with excitement.  The smell of the greasy doughnuts filled the air.  Music from the midway wafted over us.  Screams emanated from the whirling teacups.

My favourite part of the fair these days is the animals.  Staying true to its agricultural roots, the Vancouver Island Exhibition displays a wide variety of farm animals and the equipment needed to support them.  The young farmers in the 4H organizations were front and centre with their pampered projects.  One bunny was so confident of its owner that it laid on its back on the boy's lap, allowing strangers to stroke its tummy.

So the Vancouver Island Exhibition is not like the Old Days anymore.   Alpacas have moved into the cow barns.  Zucchini competition is down and canning displays are sparse. But many things continue the time honoured tradition of the fall fair.  Screaming kids, cotton candy, goat milking and prize quilts on display.  I think I'll be back again next year.