Lindsay Exhibition brings five days of fall fair fun to the community

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DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The midway lights are off, the livestock have headed home, and another Lindsay Exhibition has officially been added to the long history of the annual autumn gathering.

Five days of competition, entertainment, agriculture, and community activities brought the fairgrounds to life, from Wednesday, September 23rd, to Sunday, September 27th, as families, exhibitors, and visitors from across the region gathered for another edition of the LEX.

While Horsepower Weekend provided an early start to this year’s fair season, it was the main Exhibition which once again proved to be the big draw, with something happening throughout the grounds from Wednesday morning through to Sunday evening.

Agriculture remained at the heart of the event, with the livestock barns busy throughout the week.

Beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits were among the animals on display, with exhibitors competing for ribbons and recognition while sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors.

The Commonwell Exhibition Building offered another glimpse into the talents and hard work of local exhibitors. Quilts, preserves, vegetables, floral arrangements, homecrafts, and other entries filled the building, continuing a tradition which remains an important part of the Exhibition.

“It’s always impressive to see the amount of work which goes into the exhibits,” said Dawn Antonio, of Lindsay. “There are so many different categories, and you can tell people take a lot of pride in what they bring to the fair.”

Outside the barns, the midway provided plenty of familiar fair-time excitement, with rides, games, and attractions keeping families busy throughout the week.

For younger visitors, the rides and games were among the highlights, while for many adults, the Exhibition offered something equally important, an opportunity to catch up with friends, neighbours, and familiar faces.

“You come for the kids and the rides, but you always end up seeing people you know,” said, Fenelon Falls’, Dan Hudson. “It’s one of those events where you run into half the community.”

The grandstand was also busy throughout the week, with truck and tractor pulls providing plenty of noise and horsepower, on Thursday evening, before GrassHogs lawn tractor racing took over Friday.

Saturday brought another full slate of activity, including: heavy horse pulls, livestock competitions, live music, and the truck and tractor pull finals.

The Exhibition wrapped up on Sunday, with one final busy day on the grounds, including: midway rides, agricultural exhibits, 4-H youth livestock finals, and demolition derby action.

For exhibitors and competitors, however, the five days represented more than simply another stop on the annual calendar.

The Exhibition continues to provide an opportunity for agricultural organizations, 4-H members, livestock exhibitors, homecraft competitors, and others to showcase their work in front of the public.

“It’s a lot of work to get ready for the Exhibition, but it’s worth it when you see everything come together,” said Tom Bailey, an exhibitor. “There’s a real sense of pride in being able to bring your animals or your entries here and be part of the fair.”

That community spirit could be seen throughout the grounds, from the livestock barns to the midway and from the exhibition building to the grandstand.

For generations of Kawartha Lakes-area residents, the Exhibition has also become something of a marker for the changing season, a final major gathering of summer before autumn settles in.

“It wouldn’t feel like September without the Exhibition,” Ms. Antonio added. “It’s something people have grown up with, and now you see parents bringing their own children and grandchildren.”

By Sunday evening, the crowds had thinned, the rides had begun to quiet, and the Exhibition grounds were once again settling back into their regular routine.

Still, for five days, the Lindsay Exhibition offered its annual combination of agriculture, entertainment, and community. Continuing a tradition which remains firmly rooted in the local calendar.

With another LEX now in the books, the fairgrounds can take a short breather, before the community begins looking ahead to next year’s Exhibition.