Crowds gather for a day of fun at Deloraine Summer Fair

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This article was published 27/07/2025 (282 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DELORAINE — The Deloraine fairground was filled with excitement for both young and seniors on Saturday as hundreds of visitors turned out for the annual Deloraine Summer Fair, hosted by the Deloraine Agricultural Society.

Now in its third year under the current Ag Society board, the fair offered a full slate of activities, including food trucks, live entertainment, a petting zoo and the crowd-favourite demolition derby.

The event has continued to grow over the years, the society’s president Tyler Weidenhamer told the Sun at the fair.

“Last year we had about 1,200 attendees over the age of 12, not including all the kids who get in free,” he said. “We were hoping to match that this year, and from the looks of things, especially with the demo derby crowd, we might be right there.”

A brand new shed was unveiled this year at the fairgrounds, a community project spearheaded by the ag society for public use. “That was a pretty big project for us,” Weidenhamer added. “We also brought in a couple more food trucks and expanded the vendor market.”

This year’s fair also featured a car show in memory of Jonathan Hofer, which added to the day’s tributes and attractions.

One of the most physically impressive and unique features of the fair was the Highland Heavy Games, returning for its second year. The day-long competition included a series of traditional Scottish strength events: the stone throw (similar to shot put), weight for distance, hammer throw, weight over bar and the iconic caber toss.

The caber toss is perhaps the most recognizable event, requiring competitors to lift and flip a massive section of a tree trunk — typically 16 to 17 feet long — so it turns end over end and lands in as straight a line as possible.

The game is not about how far it goes, competitor Stephanie Outhwaite, who is currently ranked second in Canada among Masters women (ages 40–60), told the Sun.

“It’s about flipping it straight and landing it as close to the 12 o’clock position as possible,” she said.

Outhwaite, 47, has returned to the sport after a lengthy hiatus. “This is kind of my comeback summer,” she said. “I’m hoping to keep going for a few more years.” She noted that while the caber isn’t extremely heavy, the challenge lies in picking it up and balancing it properly. “I flipped it three times today, so I’m pretty happy with my results.”

With a team of 18 volunteers on the ag society board, Weidenhamer said organizing the fair is no small task. “Insurance costs are rising, and there’s a lot of planning that goes into it, but everyone pitches in. It really comes together well.”

He added the Deloraine Summer Fair continues to serve as a vibrant showcase of community spirit, heritage, and celebration — “an event we hope will keep growing year after year.”

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