About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

F is for FUN at the FAIR

This week, F is Fun at the FAIR!  It's actually the Pacific National Exhibition, but we all just refer to it as the "Fair."  It started on Saturday, August 16th and has been held at Hastings Park in Vancouver since 1910.  Every year it's a huge attraction from mid-August until Labour Day at the beginning of September.  I can remember going to the Fair as a small child with my parents, taking my two little nephews before I had children of my own, and taking my own children when they were small. 

There are several parts to the Fair.  Playland is a great draw for kids and adults of any age with its iconic wooden roller coaster and rides like Atmos-Fear, the Hellevator, the Corkscrew, the Scrambler, Westcoast Wheel, Pirate, etc.  Then there are the games like Whac-a-Mole, Pop Gun, Jump Shot, Ring Toss, Crossbow and more...Don't bother to bring a lunch or dinner because there is more food to try than you can imagine.  The always popular Hunky Bill's Perogies are fantastic, as are the C-Lovers Fish 'n Chips, Gourmet Burgers, the Rib Festival, hot dogs, fries, donuts and pizzas....and more...
Don't forget to visit the Big Red Barn that features all things agricultural where you can actually see a calf being born.  There's Safeway's Farm Country and the Pacific Spirit Horse Show with dressage and jumping and Cattle Penning  in the Agrodome Building.  Also, see 4H clubs in action.
Among the live shows being presented are Super Dogs (an absolute MUST SEE!), pig races, Toon City, Retro Dance Party, Bones and Scully (pirates!), and some new shows - Thunder Drums of China, Mystic India, and Timber! a stompin' lumberjack shindig!   Also, the stars come out in the evenings and this year the Fair is having (among others) Joan Jett, Chilliwack, Air Supply, LeeAnn Rimes, Trooper, Gipsy Kings, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, the Pointer Sisters, and Glass Tiger!  A great lineup this year.  I even remember seeing Tom Jones one year when I was in my early 20s.  A couple of years ago, I saw Hall and Oates!  So exciting!  Here's a shot of Chilliwack who will be performing on August 19th (free with your admission to the fair).
Then there's the always popular Prize Home to wander through.  Ticket sellers are out in full force hawking tickets to win the house or any of a myriad of cars or vacations.  This year's house will be located in the Okanagan town of Kelowna and has had the interior design done by Jillian Harris (who was on the Bachelor a few seasons ago). 
So if you're planning a trip to Vancouver, be sure to come when the Fair is on because you just might want to spend more than one day there.  So much to see, so much to do, and not enough time for it all. There is so much more than I've put in here, so you just have to see it for yourselves.  Oh, I almost forgot about the special thing they have this year - the Game of Thrones Traveling Exhibition - and you can actually sit on the throne and view 100's of artifacts from the show!  Here's my daughter Jamie with husband Jason and their two children.
Finally, don't forget to throw out a thank you to the fascinating Denise Nesbitt, creator of ABCW, and to our favourite Roger, ABCW's administrator.  Also, we're still looking for fabulous volunteers to help visit a few blogs each week, so let Roger know if you're interested. Here's a little slide show of some of my own photos from when Lorne and I went in 2011 - enjoy.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
 
 

21 comments:

Powell River Books said...

There's nothing like a fair, I could eat my way from one end to the other and back again. So much tempting junk food. - Margy

Roger Owen Green said...

Looks like LOTS of Fun!


ROG, ABCW

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

Frolicking through fabulous features...what fun!

ellen b. said...

Fairs are a fun adventure. How nice to see your daughter's family. Have a great week!

Hildred said...

When I was a child I loved the roller coaster, but when I took my own children to the Fair in Vancouver we rode the old iconic wooden coaster and I found age and responsibility had made me far less brave! Great post, Leslie.

Photo Cache said...

beautiful shots from the fair. i especially love the one with the horses.

ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

always love the fairs.Candy floss.

K V V S MURTHY said...

Beautiful photos ..and text too..!

K V V S MURTHY said...

Beautiful photos ..and text too..!

LindyLouMac said...

Calling by from ABC Wednesday for F, Fabulous Fair. One day I hope to get to visit Vancouver.

SamuraiFrog said...

I love the picture with the horses.

Ann said...

Oh boy, the corkscrew ride sounds really scary. I love fairs with all of the yummy food.
Ann

Ni de Aqui, Ni de Alla said...

A fair from mid August to Labor Day? That's a long fair! What a fun, I love fairs!

Black Jack's Carol said...

We went to the fair three years ago (could have bumped into you!), but haven't returned though it was fun at the time. Loved your shots and especially enjoyed seeing your daughter with her family. The slide show started out fine but wouldn't play after the first picture (maybe a computer problem from my end). Still a great post. Sending lots of hugs for you and Lorne!

Lmkazmierczak said...

Fairs all seem to have the same kinds of things, yet they all have the local flavor♪ Great post!

Cristina Pop said...

Fairs are so much fun! I miss going to one :(

Anonymous said...

I love fairs; so does Lex! Canada, O Canada, your national anthem doth reign far above the USA's dossier of bombing and blood sung in impossible keys!

You certainly captured the fun at this fair, and Leslie, just think. You are living in one of the coolest countries in the world (except for the clear-cuts of old growth trees, which I hear about from Sherry!). I was in Vancouver on tour once and left with great admiration for spotless streets and no vulgar language in public (except from American tourists). Amy

photowannabe said...

Hi Leslie, just thought I would drop by and say hello. I do miss the weekly chats on ABC Wednesday. Perhaps I will be back next round.
Love your photos of the Fair. They are always fun and my goodness, that's quite a lineup of entertainment.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

That does look like fun!

Nabanita said...

I always enjoy fairs..so much that I enjoyed reading this post..The pics made this even better...

Random Thoughts Naba - 12 Most Puzzling Acquaintances in Life...

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