The rabbits and sheep are ready for judging, the steak's marinating for dinner, and auctioneers are lubricating their vocal chords for the livestock auction - the Reid Lake Fall Fair comes to the neighbourhood's community hall Saturday and Sunday, along with a farmers' market, home arts displays, a silent auction, dance and a kids' carnival.
"This year is really neat because we're involving the other lake communities, including Salmon Valley, Nukko Lake and Ness Lake," said Nancy Harris, a member of the organizing committee. "It's just to help with the volunteer base and to make it a bigger fundraiser to benefit all the communities."
The Reid Lake Fall Fair has been taking place, off and on, for about 10 years. Last year, about 500 people attended, same as expected this year.
The weekend launches with a flurry of activity on Saturday.
"The evening on Saturday is always really popular and especially we like to see lots of people come out for the steak dinner at 5 p.m.," said Harris.
"Dinner is followed by a dance with live music provided by The Bone Spurs. We have a big tent so this event takes place rain or shine. It's adult oriented under the tent but we always have the kids playing outside."
Sunday is more of a community visit with musicians jamming together, sac races and horseshoe pitching.
"That's what we are," said Harris. "We're a little bit of this and a little bit of that and it's all for fun with the kids all running around - a real family event."
Harris said they are making special arrangements for seniors who would like to attend the event by providing bus service from seniors' complexes as well as other groups who wish to be picked up. That can be arranged by e-mailing chinajunky14@hotmail.com or by calling 250-613-2270 or 250-967-0230.
There are many seniors who have enjoyed rural living when younger and then had to find care in town as they age, said Harris.
"This is one of my highlights, to be able to provide seniors the opportunity to get back to their rural roots," said Harris. "We hope a lot of people come out and have a good time."
The event is by donation and proceeds will go to upgrading equipment for the Ness Lake volunteer fire department.
The event begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and goes until the dance ends at 1 a.m. Then Sunday activities go from 2 to 6 p.m.
