Some people call them "bench fairs"; some call them "ladies exhibits" or "hobby shows"; at the Olds Fair & Rodeo, we call them the Horticulture and Creative Arts Exhibits. Whatever they are called, the exhibits of flowers, vegetables and fruits, field crops, canning and baking, fancy work and handicrafts, artwork and photography, continue to attract the attention of fair-goers, and invite urban and rural people to come and mingle, and indeed, compete together. Many Fairs, including Olds, actually began with healthy displays of grains and vegetables; livestock came later.

The Olds Fair & Rodeo does not overlook the artistic displays of local craftsmen and gardeners. Once held in the local church or one-room school, the Horticulture and Creative Arts bloomed for many years in the Olds Curling Rink. With the 2007 Fair, the displays moved to the Auxiliary Ice Surface of the Olds Sports Complex. Within these walls are presented an annual record of growth and achievement.

Some of the exhibits you will see include quilts, tatting, basketry, petit point, embroidery, knitting and crocheting. Some more recent craft classes are those for wheat weaving, mirror etching, and machine-made bread.

Years ago classes were offered for the best axe handle, farm gate, moccasins, saddles, soap, and there was even a printers typesetting contest. Industrial exhibits were also popular at one time, and classes were offered for coal, lumber, building stone, furs, and gold. Classes from "the good old days" still on the books include those for the best fruit display, jelly and jams, shortbread, and something new from something old. The reintroduction of the field crops exhibits in 1998 was a tremendous success and a wonderful example of the present returning to the past.

This area offers competition for people of all ages and talents. For many people whose artistic and mechanical talent lies dormant, the craft displays serve to awaken new interests and leads to new and worthwhile pastimes. For others, the competition between friends and neighbours is almost a necessity, a desire to show the best that can be produced.

NEW IN 2007! - W.I. EXHIBITS
Work from Women's Institutes will be competing for prizes in 2007. Open to chartered and organized WI branches, each branch will display ten of eighteen different items, including baking, centerpieces, photos, or even a collection of milk bottles. These displays take you back in time!

Pop on over to the exhibit area and take a quick break in The Oasis, a casual indoor patio where you can visit with old friends. Small children slip into the Kiddie Korral and watch Disney movies compliments of Rip's Audio Video.

CPRA Rodeo
Chuckwagon & Chariot Races
Parade & Pancake Breakfasts
Exhibits - Horticulture, Arts & Crafts
Exhibits - Outdoor Marketplace
Livestock Shows
Attractions
Especially for Kids
Prize Lists & Entry Forms