New twist at the Ol' Ex

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

After 243 years, Canada's oldest Agricultural Fair continues to push the envelope to include a wide variety of unique entertainment. Along with the usual livestock competitions, arts, crafts, horticultural displays, concerts and carnival rides, this year’s Hants County Exhibition will be flying high in more ways than one.

The grand finale this year will be a one-hour circus performance by Cirque Siana, of Atlantic Cirque. After the popularity of sold-out shows in Metro, the Windsor Agricultural Society is proud to bring this incredible act to the Hants County Exhibition.

The only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada, the 12-member troupe will perform a variety of techniques from amazing contortions to trapeze acrobats and aerial skills, for one night only.

Based out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Cirque was founded by Anais Guimond, who opened the only school for circus arts in Atlantic Canada in 2002, having trained and performed with circuses worldwide.

This will be the first time the company has traveled to the Valley area, which Ex manager David Coombes said was a real coup for the Windsor Agricultural Society.

“We are very excited to be presenting a professional circus production to the region,” he said. “Circus arts have been widely successful throughout Canada, the United States and in Europe over the past few decades. This is the closest people in this area will get to a Cirque Du Soleil type performance,” he said.

Best of all, that performance and others are free with the price of admission to the grounds.

More new acts

The circus isn't the only new act this year. Based out of Cumberland County, the Ton Veta's old-time and modern country and western music act featuring Oklahoma performer Paul Belanger, known as the "Old Man of the Mountain"; Kevin Beanland, "Air Canada's Flying Fiddler"; and Don Haggart from the N.S. Country Music Hall of Fame and others will open the Ex Sept. 13.

The act includes an all-day Apple Harvest festival for children starting at 1 p.m. with music, games and treats along with appearances by Mickee and Minee and the 'lollipop lady'. The all-day concert performances will also include world-class yodelers as well as fiddler Ron Noils, bassist Wayne Petri and David Anderson.

Spokesperson and MC Vonetta Chouinard says the show is a success everywhere they go because it includes such a great combination of music and performers. “It's a really great mixture. There will be something for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

Chouinard added the Ton Veta's are excited join the Hants County Exhibition. “We're here to help the exhibition expand and grow. We want to be part of sustaining such a great family venue,” she said. “Everyone from Hants County should bring their children and come. It will be a wonderful time.”

New this year as well is a chainsaw juggling show that will make its way to the midway Sept. 14. And speaking of chainsaws, internationally renowned Tree Sculptor Albert Deveau of New Brunswick will be on hand Sept 12-14 to create a one-of-a-kind chainsaw sculpture that will later be housed permanently in downtown Windsor.

The evening concert series will include The Spinney Brothers, The Corvettes and the Johnny Cash Tribute, 'He wore black'.

Over the years motor sports have become a popular addition to the exhibition line-up as well. A Truck and Tractor pull and Lions Club 'bash for cash' demolition derby will round out the weekend Sept. 20 and 21.

Coombes says the Society couldn't be more pleased with the mix of entertainment this year. “We are really trying hard to provide more of a variety,” he said. “People want to see something different and something good and that’s what we've done.

For more information go to www.hantscountyex.com.