If there was a theme for the 2010 edition of the Estevan Fair, it would have been making the best of a bad situation.
Despite a number of challenges, most of them due to the weather, the fair was another success with just under 8,000 people passing through the turnstiles.
Although he had a goal of cracking the 10,000 mark, Estevan Exhibition Association president Rodney Dukart said he was very happy with how the three-day event, which wrapped up last Wednesday, went.
"Our attendance was down a little bit but that was understandable with the weather," said Dukart. "We weren't down a whole bunch though, I suppose 200 to 300 people. We weren't disappointed at all."
Dukart added he was pleased with how everyone worked together to tackle the obstacles that were placed in front of them.
Because of the large amount of rain Estevan received in the days leading up to the fair, a good portion of the exhibition grounds were unfit to host the centrepiece of the event, the West Coast Amusements midway.
That prompted a move to the parking lot of the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre, a decision that proved to be very popular with fairgoers.
"That was a lifesaver," Dukart said of the move. "The midway wouldn't have been able to set up. They might have set up a few rides but they wouldn't have got the big ones set up. It was too wet and they didn't want to chance going in there and tearing the grounds all up and maybe bending the rides. But from the sounds of it people liked it there because there were no mosquitoes."
Dukart was quick to thank the City's leisure services manager, Helen Fornwald, for going to bat for the EEA and helping them gain access to the parking lot. He also thanked fire Chief Ron Tocker for helping to straighten out all the fire regulations and the crews from SaskPower and Sask Energy for quickly locating all the utility lines in the area.
Dukart added that because of this year's difficulties with the weather, the EEA will look into the possibility of paving an area in the fairgrounds.
"Paving is nice because it is there forever."
Sticking with the theme of making the best of bad things, Dukart was also happy to report this year's fair was incident free.
The 2009 fair was marred by a number of fights and violent incidents between a group of local youths and West Coast Amusements employees.
Because of last year's incidents the EEA hired volunteers from Estevan Minor Football to serve as security. The Estevan Police Service was also on site at the fair grounds during the event.
"There was not a bit of trouble," said Dukart. "I think kids see security walking around and they just know that can't pull any (stuff) off. We were very happy with the City police. They were there all the time walking around you couldn't ask for better people."
For more on this year's fair please see page C1.
