Bouncing babies at the Fair
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For some it was a new experience, while for others it was a family tradition.
On Saturday the Tillsonburg Fair kicked off Family Day with its annual baby show, bringing in parents from all over the area with their little ones.
The show, which has become a fun thing for young parents with babies to do at the fair, sees a number of different groups of babies coming out to be judged on a variety of different things, including best costume, longest hair and so on.
Ilene Chesterman, chair of the baby show, said that babies up to 18 months participate in different fun activities and are given prizes for something that is “special about them.”
“I don’t know when it actually started, but it’s been going on for a long time,” said Chesterman. "There are a few (adults) here today that were also in the baby show way back when that I remember... It means I’m getting older.”
The baby show used to be referred to as the ‘healthy baby show,’ but Chesterman said that they changed it so that it would be just a fun activity to participate in.
“They get a toy and the parents get the chance to win a draw,” she said. “It’s just a happy time together.”
Chesterman said that she enjoys seeing all of the babies and their enthusiastic parents come out to the show.
“They do such a nice job of dressing their kids special for the classes we have. The community is very supportive and Council has been good too, they gave us gifts for the kids.”
Shanah Deruysscher was at the show with her baby daughter Luna and said that she had grown up with the fair and always knew about the show.
“My other daughter was in it when she was a baby, it’s just something fun. I love the show, it’s a nice little thing for families to come and do. It makes the fair for all ages, there’s not much for babies to do, so they get this, and we get to show our kids off.”
Ashley Phipps brought her daughter Lexa Klassen and said the show has become family tradition, adding that she had participated in the show when she was a baby.
“I was a baby and my mom brought me and my brother and everything,” she said. “I just think it’s really nice to have for their baby books and all of that kind of stuff. It’s just neat.”
Kyle Chamberlain brought his daughter Sabrina, who was the first girl in his family.
“She’s the first girl in my family so I thought I would show her off,” he said. “It’s more of an experience. I’m a first-time dad, so this is kind of a nervous thing, but I enjoy it.”