A local event organizer is stepping in to fill the void after a popular summer fair in Chatham was cancelled.
Late last month, the Chatham Kinsmen announced they were unable to host this year’s Kinsmen Fair, which has been a summer tradition for 75 years, due to issues with their carnival ride provider.
Officials with Summit Shows Canada, organizers of events such as Ribfest and Art in the Park in Chatham, say they have a solution.
Spokesman Chris Glassford says he has reached out to other ride operators and some friends and with the blessing of the Chatham Kinsmen president, Ryan Robinson, is putting together a backup fair as a temporary solution.
“The Chatham Kinsmen has done amazing work over the past few decades providing the fair and services for our community. When reading that the Chatham Fair was in jeopardy, I knew we had to step up and help in a big way.” Chris Glassford said in a news release.
Glassford says this is just a one-off event, and hopes the Kinsmen will be able to revive their own festival next summer.
“The Kinsmen is an organization who has worked tirelessly to host this event year after year and we’re more than willing to step up and give them a year off to relax, regroup, and get ready to tackle 2024.”
The Kinsmen Fair, formerly known as the Jaycee Fair, is typically held in June, however a date for the fair has yet to be announced.