Organizers of the Aldergrove Fair Days considered, briefly, changing the date of the festivities when they discovered it conflicted with the 2010 BC Summer Games coming to Langley this weekend.

But the thought was fleeting, explained Robin McIntosh, president of the Aldergrove Festival Days Society.

Since the Games committee was not going to need the upper fields of the Aldergrove Athletic Park, only the lower fields and the schools, that still left ample room for the fair’s expanded midway, entertainment stage, artisans alley, tractor pull, beer garden, and military equipment exhibit.

With the decision made to proceed with Aldergrove’s popular summer festival, in spite of the Games, that’s when brainstorming began about how to ensure the two events did not compete, McIntosh said.

“I think it will be a nice complement,” said the Murrayville resident who took over the fair reins this spring from Mike Robinson.

There’s actually some great benefits to having the Games on the same weekend, McIntosh said.

For the fair, for instance, they have an expanded audience of about 500 athletes, coaches, and officials being billeted between the neighbouring two school.

Therefore, a decision was quickly made to provide them all with free passes to the fair, along with goodie bags that offered coupons and a swath of information about local amenities.

On the flip side, McIntosh hopes the fair will still draw thousands of people to the park – as it does every year – and that those spectators will take some time out to catch one of the girls and boys soccer games being held on the lower fields.

Also due to the Games, McIntosh said the fair would forego its typical admission fees this year ($4/adults, $3/seniors and youth) simply asking for a “reasonable donation” in efforts to bolster numbers.

Likewise, McIntosh said, there’s also been ongoing discussions about how the two events can work together, including shared security.

And while fireworks have been cancelled for this year’s fair because the Games is using the lower fields, a new, fun idea is in the works.

Fair organizers will hand out 10,000 glow sticks at about 9 p.m. Saturday night.

“We want the whole fairgrounds smothered with glow sticks,” he said. “It should be great. We originally thought we’d do 2,000-4,000 of these things, and then someone stood up and said lets go big or go home.”

Pushing a sports theme, McIntosh said the fair board has also added in a bocce tournament, plus the popular fast-draw championship is still being held, and back by popular demand is the growing lawn mower races.

The long-time fair favourites, such as the 10 a.m. Saturday parade, the tractor pull, 4H petting zoo, beer garden, and chili cookoff are returning.

New this year, is a Meal or No Meal game, as well as an announcers travelling throughout the grounds advising of upcoming events.

McIntosh is particularly psyched about the introduction of a classic car show ’n’ shine that is expected to bring 100-150 vehicles from all over North America to the Aldergrove Community Secondary parking lot.

Still impressed with the calibre and mix of this year’s fair, McIntosh said:

“It is absolutely amazing how you have to work year-round to organize a three-day fair.”

The Aldergrove Fair Days runs July 23, 24, and 25 at the north fields of Aldergrove Athletic Park, near the Kinsmen Centre and Aldergrove Secondary School.

While the midway kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, followed by a new classic car show at 6 p.m., most of the events are still held on Saturday and Sunday.

The fair has a soft opening at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, but things really kick off immediately after the downtown Aldergrove parade, which begins downtown 10 a.m. and concludes at the fairgrounds.

Then, throughout both Saturday and Sunday, there is a long list of family-oriented fun. Admission this year is by donation.

Canadian Fast Draw Championships

• Sunday on the fair’s main stage at 3 p.m.

Shooters from all over Canada and the U.S.A. will be coming to test their skills. Two Aldergrove residents are current world champions, so this really will be an opportunity to cheer on the home team.

The host of the Canadian Fast Draw Championships this year is the Thunderbird Fast Draw Club, which is based at the Langley Rod and Gun Club on 208th Street in Langley.

The Thunderbirds are the oldest continually operating Fast Draw Club in the sport today, having performed shows and contests since they formed in the winter of 1958.

The Thunderbird club has been host to almost half of all the Canadian Championship contests ever held in the country and look forward to bringing the contest to Aldergrove this year.

The last eight Canadian championships have been held in Alberta. The World Fast Draw Association, based in the U.S., has been sanctioning these events since the merging of the Mid-Western Fast Draw Association and the Western Fast Draw Association into WFDA, the main governing body for fast draw, which takes place in such countries as Scotland, Germany, and Japan to name a few.

Fast draw is a “nervous” sport, requiring great concentration, good reactions, and a love for the old-west style of dress and shooting. Fast Draw is billed as The Fastest Sport In The World with some times taking much less than 1/2 of one second!

Organizers trust spectators will enjoy attending this latest event as well as the celebrity shootout, which will involve several local VIPs.

The event will be located in the Fast Draw Range from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.

This is the first chance to see, in action, world-class fast draw competitors such as Aldergrove’s own Nicole Franks, who has been the women’s WFDA all-around champ for the last seven years.

Shoot starts Saturday at 10 a.m.

Downtown parade

• Saturday in Downtown Aldergrove at precisely 10 a.m.

Watch the parade on the main street of Aldergrove and follow it all the way to the fairgrounds. This year organizers are expecting more participants than ever before to thrill the entire family.

Aldergrove’s 98th annual agricultural fair and exhibits

• Saturday and Sunday on the fairgrounds this event runs throughout the day

Building up to a century of service, this is the place to really find out what the 100 Mile Diet means in the Lower Mainland.

Guests can also enjoy the 4-H petting zoo, and learn about their animals from these very enthusiastic future farmers.

Show ‘n’ Shine Classic Car Show

• On Friday night, in the school parking lot off 29th Ave from 6 to 9 p.m.

The first Annual Aldy Show ’n’ Shine Classic Car Show will bring together some great vehicles for viewing and discussion pleasure.

“If you like cars, you’re going to love this event,” said McIntosh.

There is going to be a DJ, 50-50 draw, and a fun-filled evening for the whole family that coincides with the opening of the midway.

Antique tractor pull

• Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds throughout the day

Always a perennial favourite, the antique tractor pull continues to fascinate people of all ages. Guests can admire dozens of antique tractors and watch them compete for awards and bragging rights for the next year.

Glowworks

• Saturday at the fairgrounds at about 9 p.m.

Last year’s fireworks were a major highlight. It was our first year to have music as well as the grassy banks to lie back on and watch the fireworks silhouetted against the countryside like rifts in the fabric of heaven (well that’s what one of the enthusiastic watchers said last year!)

But this year, the fireworks had to be cancelled due to the Games. So organizers have come up with a new and different way to add some funky lights to the night sky in Aldergrove.

Organizers will be handing out 10,000 glow sticks to all fair participants.

Artisans showcase

• Saturday and Sunday all day at the vendor’s market area

In collaboration with the Langley Arts Council, the fair board is gathering an awe-inspiring collection of artisans to demonstrate hand skills from 1,000 years ago to 100 years ago.

Watch these specialists make armor, rope, glass, furniture, clothing, pottery, cheese, decorative objects, barrels, chains and so much more.

Main stage entertainment

• Saturday and Sunday, all day, on the main stage

Entertainment this year will have something for (nearly!) everyone. Magicians and music, contests and comedy, dancers and down-home country, rock ’n’ roll and gospel, plus some olde-time specials featuring entertainers from the Lower Mainland.

Chili cookoff

• Saturday at the fairgrounds, from 4 p.m. onward

This event is designed for chili lovers of all ages with a hearty appreciation of the heady aromas that arise from the pot of a finely seasoned chili.

Whether people like it hot, spicy or just plain delicious, there is bound to be a chili for them.

The chili will be stewing all day Saturday, until the judges arrive at 4 p.m. to begin tasting. At 4:30 p.m., the regular crowd can shuffle in to finish off the crucibles brimming with spiced deliciousness.

Kidzone Entertainment

• Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds

This is the place to come to let children’s imaginations run wild. Everywhere they turn, there will be new adventures and encounters with magicians, clowns, animals and more adventures arriving every hour.

Other features

• Modern tanks and historic cannons on display with dozens of military equipment

• The ugliest truck on earth (actual truck from the new A-Team movie)

• Beer garden hosted by the Aldergrove Legion

• Celebrity lawnmower racing

• Silent auction