Still having fun at the Langton Fair
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Langton's Fall Fair is back on track this year for the 128th annual on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Organized by the North Walsingham Agricultural Society, the community and school fair kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m., usually about 45 minutes in length, followed by opening ceremonies at the community park behind the arena. Admission is $3 for adults, children are free.
Students from both Sacred Heart Catholic School and Langton Public School will be in attendance this year, noted fair president Carol Overbaugh,
"We missed them (Langton Public School) last year, that's for sure," said Overbaugh, "but we are glad they are back. And I'm sure they are too. They are always an integral part of it, as well as Sacred Heart. Both schools are an integral part of our fair - they exhibit so many things in different categories like Arts and Crafts. We have a whole prize list just for the students (separate from adult prize lists). The teachers choose the theme each year... and the prize list usually goes home with the students in June so they can work on it over the summer if they have time. And then when they come back to school, they also work on it before the fair.
"I can't thank those students and teachers enough because they really help out a lot. The Grade 8s also help by setting up the day before, so it's a great asset to us, for sure."
The fair schedule includes a noon luncheon organized by Langton Baptist Church in the community centre, baby show at 12:30 p.m., nail driving competition at 12:45 p.m. (student and adult divisions). A Classic Car Show will be on-site following the parade.
"A few years ago we added the students for the nail driving contest because they seemed to enjoy it."
Nail driving goes back at least 70-80 years, said Overbaugh.
"I think that competition started right when the fair started 128 years ago. It's been forever," she said, recalling her mother, Gertrude Holmes, was also a fierce nail driver.
"My mom won it a lot - she even practiced," Overbaugh laughed. "And she did a ton of baking. She entered every category in the fair book, she would just bake and bake."
At 1:30 p.m., it's the tobacco hand-tying competition, another Norfolk County tradition that goes back many decades.
"Some people still know how to do it after all these years," said Overbaugh, who recalled a hand-tying category that used to involve teachers. One year they convinced Langton Public School's principal to try it with two teachers as 'leaf handers.'
"She said, 'no, no, I can't do it,' then said 'okay.' So she stepped up to the tying horse and she started tying. The crowd was blown away. She didn't tell anyone that her dad had taught her how to tie and she had worked on a tobacco farm when she was younger for quite a few years. She won the contest by a landslide. We were just shocked."
The hand-tying competition is still quite popular, she said.
"Some people have just never forgotten... they're still pretty good at it. I'm sure it's an event they've had since they started growing tobacco around here."
The baby show is also an event with a long tradition at the fair.
"My mom put me in - and I won," Overbaugh smiled. "That was 1949. Then I put my kids in... and they won."
Overbaugh said one of their baby show judges - with nearly 40 years judging experience - just retired.
"It's been going for a long, long time too."
Shirley Knowles started the junior talent show, said Overbaugh, almost 30 years ago. This year's talent show is at 1:30 p.m. in the arena.
"We have preliminaries, usually, and eight finalists compete on fair day. It's always quite popular as well."
Overbaugh recalls illusionist Lucas Wilson, who currently holds Guinness World Records (and was scheduled to appear on NBC's The Today Show on Tuesday), working his magic at the Langton Fair.
"I think he was only in maybe Grade 3 or 4 when he did his little magic show. His dad helped him get his stuff together and that's where he first competed - at the Langton Fair Talent Show. He was just a little guy."
She also recalled Daniel Main, from Langton Public School, who started juggling in Grade 3, winning the championship in Grades 6-8, and later competing in the Western Fair's talent show with magic and juggling, making it to the Top 10 from a field of 1,200. Main returned in 2012 for a show at the Langton Fair.
"He figured that's where he got his start," said Overbaugh.
Dotsy the Clown returns to the fair. There will be free wagon rides for the children, and Robert Townsend is bringing a midway.
"(Robert's) dad used to bring the midway, then Robert took over from his dad - they're here every year as well. The kids always enjoy that."
Overbaugh said the current Langton Fair has a committee of 25-plus members with an executive of five - and they are aided by a team of community volunteers.
"We recruit people to help, and people are really faithful about helping," said Overbaugh. "That's really helpful because other people in the community who may not necessarily be on the fair board, they are more than willing to come in and help us too."