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EDITORIAL: IPE a great local tradition

The biggest festival in the North Okanagan is officially a go.
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The biggest festival in the North Okanagan is officially a go.

The 118th annual Interior Provincial Exhibition, commonly known as the Armstrong fair, begins today and continues until Sunday.

And it will be interesting to see if the 150,086 people that passed through the gate in 2016 will be surpassed this year, and that is very possible if the sun shines and the rain stays away.

Everyone attends for their own specific reason, and for some, it’s the mini doughnuts and other fair food, while others are ready to kick back and take in the action of the nightly rodeo. Entertainment is a constant on the big stage while the midway packs in those seeking thrills.

But for others, the fair is an opportunity to connect with the Okanagan’s roots.

Barns will bring residents of the increasingly urbanized valley face to face with goats, horses, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, pigs and other critters. Exhibits of fresh fruit and vegetables will also abound.

Through this, fair-goers can learn first-hand about where their food comes from and the major role farming continues to play economically.

And after they leave the barns, they can check out the baking and crafts, perhaps being motivated to go home and try their hand at a new hobby.

First and foremost, though, the IPE is all about community. It’s an opportunity to meet with family and friends, while countless volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the fair is a resounding success.

Make sure you don’t miss the fun.