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The Grindrod fairs were
held around the same time as the Enderby fairs.
In Grindrod, as in Enderby, there was a race track for horse races and
other rodeo attractions similar to stampedes. The race track was located where the ball
park is now, across from the Grindrod store. In the middle of the track was a clump of
trees, and on the outside of the track were bleachers for spectators to sit on. Behind the
bleachers was a parking lot for the few motor vehicles that were around at the time.
There was one difference between the horse races in Grindrod from those in Enderby. In
Grindrod, the races were mainly for show and entertainment for the on-lookers, rather than
for judging and the winning of prizes. Many men tried dare-devil stunts. For example, two
horses galloped along side by side and one man straddled between the horses while being in
an upright position. Acrobatics, involving men and horses, was the on-field display
between events that a caller would announce. The caller also announced the events such as
the lassoing of horses and calves and horse bucking.
The old Grindrod Farmers Hall, built in 1919 (burned down in 1969), was where the indoor
judging took place. The hall seemed to be the area where the women gathered. After all the
judging had been done for the day, the women gathered around to play their own games.
Contestants competed to see who could throw a rolling pin the farthest, balance an egg on
a spoon while walking the length of the room, or tell the most interesting bit of gossip.
Besides the judging in the hall, there were also water events that were judged or took
place just for fun. The ones that took place at Grindrod bridge were basically the same as
those in Enderby. Swimming the width of the river was one event that was done in Grindrod.
Tipping of canoes, the greasy pole contest, and log rolling were all a part of the fairs.
Most contestants in these events got dressed in the skating rink that used to be next to
the river. (The skating rink was torn down when the new Grindrod bridge was built.)
While the women were inside the hall playing games and gossiping, the men had their own
kind of non-competitive games. The children watched and cheered, eager to grow up and join
in the adult fun. Nail driving was one such event. The men would race against each other
to see who could be the first to drive a long spike into a log. The first one to hammer
the spike in all the way was the winner. Tug-of-war was a favorite pastime as well as the
chase of a greasy pig. Someone would grease a pig and then the men had to run around and
try to catch the slippery animal. The one who succeeded in capturing the pig, without
letting it slip out of his arms, was congratulated and was allowed to keep the pig. One
humorous event involved trying to get roosters to crow.
For those who did not pack a picnic lunch for the day's events, food could be purchased at
food stalls, operated by local residents or clubs.
The Women's Institute sponsored all of the Grindrod fairs. Admission rates were $0.25 for
adults and $0.10 for children under 12. Members of the Women's Institute also looked after
all of the events that went on inside the Farmers Hall.
During World War II, the fair died out, but returned once the war was over. The fairs
lasted until 1959, when the final spark of interest died. It now seems that the fairs in
Grindrod continued on after the ones in Enderby died out. The main reason for the eventual
"death" of the fairs is thought to have been brought about by the "motor
car". The vehicles enabled the town members to travel further distances to larger
fairs, such as those in Armstrong and Salmon Arm. The other reason was just the lack of
interest from those few people who decided to stay in the area. Thus, the annual fairs
were discontinued
Memories continue on about the good times that friends and families shared around fair
time. The events and the winning of prizes will not soon be forgotten by those people who
had a chance to attend the yearly fairs held by the communities. Even when all those who
attended these fairs are gone, there will still be reminders and ideas to help the present
generations realize some of the events that occurred in the Enderby and Grindrod areas.
Michelle Imbeau, Alvin Hand, Julie Williamson
ALF School 1989