The fate of the Ashcroft and District Fall Fair is hanging in the balance, with the current organizers looking to pass the torch to a new group of volunteers who can step in and take over.
The Desert Mesa Club took over the running of the fair in 2017, but made the decision to cancel that year’s event in light of the devastating Elephant Hill wildfire and its impact on the region. The fair was also cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ashcroft Fall Fair began life in 1888 as the Exhibition of the Inland Agriculture Association, with the first fair being held in Kamloops. In 1889 the fall fair moved to Ashcroft, and it quickly became an important part of the town’s social calendar. At the 1897 fair, brass bands came from Kamloops and Lillooet, and the 1917 fair raised more than $2,600 (about $63,000 in today’s money) for the Red Cross’s war efforts.
Attendance at the fair has been declining in recent years, with 1,000 people coming through the doors in 2012; a number that had dwindled to about 500 by 2015. Organizers say that it has become more and more difficult to recruit enough volunteers, and the number of entries submitted for judging has also declined sharply.
Kat Chatten of the Desert Mesa Club says that the Fall Fair Society has its AGM coming up at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 27 at the downstairs meeting room at the Cache Creek Community Hall, and that this will be an opportunity for a new group to take over the organization of the fair.
“Over the past few years, the Desert Mesa Club had stepped in to operate the Fall Fair when the previous society could not find enough volunteers or members,” says Chatten. “We think we did a very good job at keeping the event going and providing a valuable experience for the community.”
A number of items that are stored at the Drylands Arena, such as chairs and tables, will stay with the society and be available for whoever takes over the running of the fair.
Any area group or organization that is interested in running the Ashcroft and District Fall Fair is encouraged to attend the AGM on May 27 to learn more about what’s involved.
”This is your opportunity to step forward and take on director roles within the organization,” says Chatten. “Whether you have fresh ideas, organizational skills, or a passion for community events, your involvement is crucial in ensuring the Fall Fair continues to thrive this year and many more to come.”