Shelburne County Exhibition celebrating 150th anniversary

The Shelburne County Exhibition will mark a milestone this year with the 150th anniversary of the community agricultural celebration.

The Shelburne County Exhibition will mark a milestone this year with the 150th anniversary of the community agricultural celebration. The festivities begin with the grand street parade on Aug. 11 and continue until Aug. 16 at the exhibition grounds on John Street, Shelburne. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. on Minto Street, makes its way down Water Street to John Street and into the exhibition grounds.

Board games is the theme of the parade this year, which seems to be popular, said Jamie Matthews president of the Shelburne County Agriculture Society. “We’ve been getting a lot of feedback. I think will be a great parade,” he said.

Related Shelburne County Exhibition runs Aug. 5-10 Shelburne County Exhibition marking 140 years: Runs Aug. 9-13 IN PHOTOS: Shelburne exhibition opens with street parade The exhibition will be giving back to the community for the 150th anniversary with a barbecue pig roast on Aug. 15.

“It will be free, first-come, first-served, inside the exhibition grounds,” said Matthews. The Shelburne County Exhibition will also be hosting the inaugural Nova Scotia Heavy Weight Ox Haul Championship on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. Twelve teams qualified for the championship haul through a series of six spring pulls in Shelburne, Bear River, Lawrencetown, Windsor, Barrington, and Caledonia. Matthews said the exhibition is bringing back the strongman competition this year and the P.E.I. Carnival Company will be back for a third year.

“They’ve been upgrading their carnival. They obtained a few larger rides. This year is going to be one of the best years yet.

Last year was great.” On the exhibition grounds, the light horse ring will have all the traditional events going on during the exhibition, while inside the Shelburne County Arena will be entertainment, vendors, and the country kitchen exhibits. “The country kitchen has a big history with the exhibition.

Baked goods, sewing, quilting, vegetables, crafts with first-, second-, and third-place prizes,” Matthews said. “It has really come back over the past few years. There’s a big interest in that now.

A lot of the older style stuff is more popular now. I think the whole idea of local farming, local agriculture, local crafts, local entertainment ... people are liking local more.” The entertainment lineup for the exhibition will showcase Shelburne County talent, wrapping up on Saturday night with an old-fashioned arena dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

One Meter Up will be playing. Matthews said exhibition organizers have received good support and sponsorship from the community for the exhibition, including the addition of a $150 prize sponsored by Southwest Mini Donuts for the best baked good entered in the country kitchen, and major sponsorship from D&W Service Centre in Shelburne for the pork barbecue. “I’m glad people see the value in community events.

A big community effort goes into the exhibition and every year it seems to get a little better. Attendance has been growing every year. Last year, we had the biggest gate we ever had.”