HARRY STODDART, General Manager, Lindsay Agricultural Society
KAWARTHA LAKES: The 167th Lindsay Exhibition will proceed as an in-person event, from September 17th to 26th, with a theme of “Celebrating our Community.”
All the favourites are returning: livestock shows, demolition derby, midway rides and games, a country music concert, The WoofJocks Canine All-stars, DooDoo the Clown, vendors, and fair food. New events for 2021 will include: evening rodeos, a horse scenting demonstration (horses trained to locate people in search and rescue), and a market turkey show.
The LEX has been stretched from the traditional five days to ten to allow social distancing and implementing COVID-19 safety protocols. People will be required to wear masks indoors and at the grandstand shows, including the country music concert. As well, capacity limits will be in place for buildings and the grandstand.
“We tried to find a balance, between holding an authentic Lindsay Exhibition with all the elements people expect,” said Harry Stoddart, General Manager of the LEX, “and minimizing the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. We will be meeting or exceeding all the regulations put in place by the Ontario government and the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit. For example, all midway staff will be required to be fully vaccinated.”
Amberley Beatty will be returning to the LEX, with her Patsy Cline tribute show, as part of an entertainment line-up including a number of local bands and entertainment acts.
“We’re excited by the possibility of holding a traditional LEX and giving our community and exhibitors something to enjoy during these challenging times,” stated Lois Batty, President of the Lindsay Agricultural Society. “We already have 25 teams committed to the horse pull, almost double the field we had in 2019. We’ve been planning, for almost a year, to be able to hold as safe an event as possible during the pandemic.”
Free admission is planned on opening day, Friday, September 17th, with the traditional parade and the full midway open for LEX goers.
Online entries are open for all the competitions at the LEX, from livestock to home craft to junior arts. Prize Books are available online, or a limited number of hard copies are available at the LEX office. Tickets will be available online, starting the first week of September. More details are available at www.LindsayEx.com and through the Lindsay Agricultural Society’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.