Foley Family Fun Day offers safe, fun option to celebrate the long weekend

The Foley Agricultural Society is capping off the summer season with a fun-filled day outdoors, offering farm-inspired activities, delicious food, interactive games, local music, art and more.

Foley Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, September 4. The event will be a 2021 version of the beloved Foley Fall Fair tradition with roots going back almost six decades. While the celebration was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the annual event typically serves as a last chance for post-secondary students to see their friends before heading back to school and for local residents and cottagers to salute summer in classic Foley style. This year will look a little different, but the beloved celebratory atmosphere of years past will be as strong as ever.

“As we planned this year’s event, safety was our top priority. We want everyone to be able to have fun without worry,” says Janet Borneman, who is chair of the Foley Agricultural Society and has spearheaded the event for several years. “We’re excited to have so many great activities on offer. There really is something for everyone!”

The full schedule is available on the Foley Agricultural Society website. Grounds open at 9:30am and the day will wrap up at about 7:00pm. Some of the highlights include:

• Performances and workshops from Whispering River Orchestra.
• Farm animal meet-and-greets with chickens, a piglet, a calf, ducks and sheep.
• A labyrinth which will be open to explore.
• A ‘mutt show’ with prizes from Pet Valu to be awarded to local pooches passing through.
• Several vendors, offering a variety of goods, including local honey, candles, jewelry, quilts, knitwear, art and more.
• Exhibit hall
• Motorcycle show
• Classic fair games like sack races, ring toss and more. Bring some coins to play.
• An open mic stage
• Performances from local musician Ed Brown (12:00pm - 2:00pm and 3:00pm – 5:00pm)

The day will also be an opportunity for children from the Parry Sound Forest School Day Camp to share what they’ve learned this summer. Their days were filled with hands-on, educational farm and forest fun, which included planting produce in the new community plots on the Foley grounds. The budding green thumbs’ plants will be on display at the event.

Classic fair food will be available for purchase. The menu will include Foley’s famous beef on a bun, fries, hot dog, hamburgers, poutine and baked treats.

“My family and I have been participating in this annual event for decades,” says Foley councilor Daryle Moffatt. “I’m looking forward to resuming the tradition this year.”

Admission is by donation. Health and safety measures will be in place. There will be capacity restrictions in tents and any indoor facility. Visitors should practice physical distancing and masks are recommended. Hand sanitizer will be available and games and surfaces will be sanitized between users.  Organizers are still in search of volunteers, including high school students looking to log hours. Those interested can contact the Foley Agricultural Society to make arrangements.