Wasn’t that a fall fair?
The crowds, the smiles, the picnics on a blanket, the old friends reuniting and new friends made, the local vendors and organizations, the food and music, the winning exhibit entries, and, of course, the zucchini races.
The Brackendale Fall Fair had it all; there were even farm animals and family-friendly games.
Not to mention the dedicated volunteers and sponsors who made it all happen.
The fair was well attended by every generation, it seemed, from babies to Elders.
Organizers tell The Squamish Chief that a whopping 6,642 folks attended!
Given that it has to compete with the GranFondo and the traffic headaches that ride brings with it, it makes it even more special that the 26th annual Brackendale Fall Fair was such a success.
With the growth of Squamish—we totalled about 14,000 when the fair started and boast about 30,000 now—and the undoubted divisions that exist in our community, between old and new residents, higher income and lower, LNG supporters and those opposed, these grassroots, community events are more valuable and important than ever.
“Festivals and events have impacts that go well beyond what can be measured in economic terms,” reads the 2011 report Impacts of community events and festivals on rural places.
Indeed.
Anyone who attended the fair on Saturday at the historic Brackendale Farmers Institute Park can attest to that.
“[These events] contribute to the quality of life across Canada by strengthening communities, providing unique activities and events, building awareness of diverse cultures and identities, and acting as a source of community pride,” the report continues.
We don’t usually talk about the impact of this fair or other grassroots events in such stuffy terms, of course.
Instead, we likely speak about the role such events have in increasing civic pride and community solidarity in emotional terms.
Their importance is filed as happy late summer memories formed by young and old.
Even if those who attended move away, as many may, they will likely associate their time in Squamish with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the fair and be taken back to that hot, fun September afternoon.
We would add that the fair, like other events such as the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival, also ties us to where we come from and points to what we are becoming.
For that, we should all be grateful.
Until next year, Brackendale Fall fair.
