Rain can’t wash out the Leamington Fair

by Greg Layson

The banner stretched across the homepage of the Leamington Fair website made one thing clear: it takes place rain or shine.

  And on Saturday, Mother Nature made her position just as obvious. It was going to be rainy.

 While the weather was far from ideal, organizers — and a handful of die-hard patrons — tried to make the best of the fair’s biggest day. Fortunately, other days of the four-day festival offered better weather and brought in the crowds.

  Environment Canada reported that more than eight centimetres of rain fell across the Windsor-Essex region, with steady mist and occasional downpours lingering over the fairgrounds throughout Saturday.

  The weather crippled the midway on Saturday, as vendors waited for customers who never really arrived and food trucks kept generators humming and grills hot despite sparse crowds.

  That left the animal barns as one of the few hot spots on the grounds, offering shelter for livestock and people alike.

  Inside, chicks and ducklings became unlikely stars of the show as visitors, young and old stopped to hold them. One duck named Penny — billed as “the duck with an afro” — drew attention for a hairstyle that looked more like a pompadour.

  Nearby, Clydesdales stood calmly in their paddocks, while visitors petted and cared for the massive horses as rain fell outside.

  The weather also failed to stop the demolition derby. Nineteen drivers still showed up to compete, drawing dozens of spectators under the cover of the Leamington Raceway grandstand.

  Leamington District Agricultural Society board member Carrie Smith said the fair had drawn strong crowds before the rain arrived and people were still turning out for live entertainment.

  Smith said Friday night performances by cover band “80’s Gone Wild” and “KISS” tribute band “Destroyer” were well attended.

  “Crowd was great. Music was amazing,” she said.

  Saturday, however, proved more difficult.

  “It’s been trying. Very trying. But people are still coming,” Smith said as rain continued to fall across the grounds.

Fickle May weather in Essex County is hardly unusual.

Smith noted the fair also battled wet conditions during last year’s event before the weather improved later in the weekend.