by Sylene Argent
With the final days of summer wrapping up quickly, members of the Cottam Rotary Club took advantage of the remaining warm weather to host the Cottam Fall Fair and Horse Festival on Sunday.
Ridgeview Park was busting at the seams during the 56th annual event as families and community members enjoyed the many amenities the event had to offer.
The event kicked off with the popular pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, and continued into the afternoon with a well-attended Vendors’ Market.
Dan Levy, President of the Cottam Rotary Club, suspected with having attracted over thirty vendors to the event, this year’s Vendors’ Market was likely the largest yet.
Community members lined the streets of Cottam, beginning at noon, to enjoy the annual parade, which traveled from Trinity Anglican Church to Ridgeview Park.
Back on the event grounds, patrons were able to appreciate the bond between horse and handler during the horse show, enjoy the Rotary barbeque, and listen to live music entertainment from a variety of local musicians.
Participants also had a chance to vote for their favourite chili dish submitted into the cook-off. Some of the Kingsville candidates hoping to earn a spot on Council participated in this friendly competition.
Young attendees were able to get their faces painted, play an assortment of games, jump around in bouncing castles, and enjoy a free pony ride.
Though this year’s horse show was smaller in comparison to past events, all of the other activities on site made up for it, Levy said. “Everyone seems to be having a good time. I’m amazed at the turnout. This is the most people I have ever seen,” he said of the event’s visitors.
He was also pleased with the many who volunteered their time to help out during the event, including members of the newly formed 2nd Cottam Scouts. “That is really what today celebrates,” he said.
The annual Cottam Fall Fair and Horse Festival is the Cottam Rotary Club’s largest fundraising and community event of the year. It is an event the community enjoys, while the Cottam Rotary Club raised dollars that help fund various other community-orientated projects throughout the year.
“It is one fundraiser we do, so we can do more for the community,” he said.