OXFORD - The blueberry capital will be in the limelight again next week as Oxford hosts the annual Cumberland County Exhibition.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, and running through Saturday, Sept. 5, the exhibition will bring people together for five days of agricultural and handicraft exhibits, entertainment and fun.
"Everyone's working full time getting the ground ready for the opening. I spoke to the midway and they're coming over from the Island and will be here Monday," exhibition committee chair Leonard Allen said. "Everything will be ready to go."
With the exhibition schedule and Labour Day being later this year there were some concerns that crowds could be down, especially considering students return to school in the middle of the exhibition.
Allen said that doesn't seem to be a factor as early indications are attendance will be strong.
"The pre-sale of bracelets is up over other years. That's a good indication that crowds should be up," Allen said, adding numbers have been improving over the last couple of years. "We have done a good job getting a bigger variety of events and entertainment."
While the actual exhibition itself starts next Tuesday, there will be a number of events throughout the weekend including horse pulls at the Oxford Arena on Saturday at 1 p.m. and a Night of Music on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., also at the arena.
There are also a number of 4-H events on Monday with 4-H Day itself set for the opening day of the exhibition, featuring a number of showmanship and conformation competitions, the parade of 4-H clubs, junior host and hostess competition and trophy presentations.
Opening day will also see the return of the popular tug-of-war competion while festivities continue through the remainder of the week with various competitions inside the rink with highlights including the Amherst Chrysler-Maltby Stables barrel racing and pole bending competitions along with equitation, pleasure riding as well as the beef and sheep show on Friday.
Something new this year will be a children's petting zoo while the midway will be set up beginning Tuesday.
"We've seen the biggest number of entries of horses we've ever had. It's so big we've had to build a number of temporary stalls," Allen said.
The exhibition street parade begins on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Entertainment during the week includes the Robert Mattatal Band on Tuesday, the Travellers and 460 Custom on Wednesday, the Country Travellers and Country Heat on Thursday, Sonny Patriquin and Cod Liver Oil on Friday and the Maritime Marionettes, Bits & Pieces and Ivan Hicks and Friends on Saturday.
For full information on the exhibition and a complete schedule go to: cumberlandcountyexhibition.canadianwebs.com.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
