Help raise the roof at the 185th Lachute Fair

Downtown Lachute will be filled with the sounds of clattering horse hooves and children's laughter on Thursday, July 8, as the 185th annual Lachute Fair parade comes through town and officially announces the start of the four-day event.

The oldest agricultural fair in Quebec and the second oldest fair in Canada, the first Lachute Fair (originally known as the Argenteuil Spring Fair) was held in 1826 in concert with the establishment of the Argenteuil Agricultural Society. According to the rules and regulations of the society as outlined in 1826, the purpose of the original fair and all subsequent fairs was to promote the science of agriculture and to valorize the role farms have in local communities.

As a tribute to the great agricultural history of Argenteuil, the Lachute Fair strives to recognize the dedication of farmers who excel in ploughing and cropping, raising livestock and dairy farms, planting fruit trees, and the general improvement of farm and home.

The fair - which bills itself as a celebration of family-oriented activities for all ages - allows visitors to familiarize themselves with farm animals, vie for ribbons, and watch in awe as the show horses dance, the tractors pull heavy loads, and the 4-H kids beam with pride as they present their prize animals.

A petting zoo and a midway provide the opportunity for children to run a little wild and celebrate the start of summer.  Most of the food is fresh from the farms, with booths like Splendron Farms of Vankleek Hill and the 4-H club serving up locally-grown meat and vegetables. (For those new to the fair, please beware of the danger of eating before going on the midway rides - the results can be rapid and unpleasant.)

The cost of running the annual fair is high and proceeds raised by entry fees are used to support the agricultural society's activities and to help maintain its buildings.

"The Centre for Local Development, the City of Lachute and the MRC d'Argenteuil are working on a patrimonial study to develop our buildings and fairgrounds," said Lachute Agricultural Society president Eric Massie. "This study will help the fair board to realize its projects.

"A few years ago we had a barn collapse while it was undergoing repairs. One day we would like to rebuild this sheep barn."

The fun begins Thursday, July 8, with handicraft judging and a parade from Richelieu Park to the fairgrounds.  The official opening starts in the beer tent with a pie-eating contest and variety show.

Competitors from across Quebec and Ontario will then roll into town on Friday to compete in the second annual modified lawn tractor pull, and attend the heavy horse judging or listen to music by The Wellits.

Saturday features antique machinery and a car show, along with 4-H judging in the dairy tent and a demolition derby at the grandstands. The tug-of-war contest at 6:30 is not to be missed, nor is the heavy horse hitch class at 1:30 p.m.

Activities come to a close on Sunday, with a day spent mud bogging and truck pulling by the grandstands, and cheering for your favourite firefighter department at the firemen competition in the back field.

The deadline to register for all events is Friday, July 2.

All children under the age of 12 will be granted free entry into the fairgrounds, where they can watch the shows, tour the midway and pet the animals in the petting zoo.