Growing up in Cloverdale we had two fairs each year at the fairgrounds. On the long weekend in May it was the rodeo fair. We had a midway with rides and games of chance and food stands with corn dogs and cotton candy and candy apples. The rodeo had the usual events: bull riding, bronc riding, wild cow milking, barrel racing, and chuckwagon races. These were all held in the inner field of what is now the Fraser Downs racetrack. The chuckwagon races went around the outer track, but ended in the mid 1970's when the Standardbred racetrack opened and the track was changed from dirt to limestone.
There used to be an indoor arena on the east side of the parking lot, near 60th Avenue. We'd go in and sit on the bleachers and watch the greased pig contest. This would consist of boys and a few girls, mostly in their early teens, chasing after a greased pig. Whoever caught it got to take it home. Back then Cloverdale was mostly a rural area so probably the lucky kid lived on a farm and had the means to take care of a pig. I can't imagine a kid who lived in a house or apartment would be too popular coming home and opening the burlap sack to show his parents a squeeling bundle of joy.
In mid-September the fall fair was held. It had the midway rides, games, and food set up. The halls were full of farmer's produce competing for the best potato, apple, and other fruits and vegetables. There were other competitions for sewing, art, photography, and other crafts. We'd spend a lot of time wandering the exhibits and admiring the winning entries and the runners up.
That was growing up in the 60's and 70's.
Eventually the fall fair was merged into the rodeo fair held on the May long weekend, combining the rodeo events with the arts and crafts exhibits that compete for prize ribbons. A little too early in the season for farm produce.
Unfortunately eliminating the fall fair cost Cloverdale its small town country fair flavour. Maybe one day this annual event will be resurrected.
We've discovered the Maple Ridge Country Fair held in the Albion fairgrounds each summer. It picks up where Cloverdale left off and is now the place to go for a typical country fair.
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