Ridge Meadows Home Show has always prided itself on putting on a completely new exciting event every year – and this year is no exception.
For the first time ever Scouts Canada will be holding its Rally Day as part of the free Family Festival.
Hundreds of Scouts will descend on the Albion Fairgrounds to participate in the club’s Kub Kar Rally where they race “kub kars” and Scout trucks for trophies.
This year, as the event is to be held on Saturday, May 4, the theme of the event will be Star Wars. So in addition to building their wooden, toy-sized vehicles, the participants will be decorating them in honour of the theme.
In addition to four Maple Ridge Scout groups that will be attending, and one from Pitt Meadows, Scout groups from Mission and Abbotsford will also be joining in the fun.
David Menier, with 1st Haney Scouts, is enthused about holding the event at the fair because a lot more people will be able to watch the races and learn more about the local Scouts groups.
He expects the races to be exciting.
The track was purchased a couple of years ago in the United States and is a six-lane, 40-foot, aluminum track. It has a timing system built into it and shows what place each car finished in at the end of each race. Then it is linked to a computer system so when each car is registered they get a place and then the computer randomizes what heat they compete in, ensuring the competition is fair.
“It even tells us what lane to put the cars in. Which is nice because it guarantees that every car races six times and goes down each lane at least once,” said Menier. It will also be hooked up to a monitor so people can easily see the races if there is a big crowd.
Design judging will be done earlier in the week when winners will be chosen in a myriad of different categories, including: funny car design; stock car design; dragster design; unlimited design; and classic design. Scout trucks will be judged for overall design.
Winners will be revealed at the end of race day when trophies will also be handed out for racing winners.
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Two ballot boxes will be set up for the public to vote for their favourite Star Wars-themed Kub Kar and Scout truck.
Scouts Canada Rally Day takes place from 10 a.m. to about 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, in the exhibit barn on the Albion Fairgrounds.
Also new to the Family Festival is a Clothes2U event, in the commercial barn. Here gently used clothing, books, as well as personal and small household items will be available to those who pay a $4 admission fee. Children 10 and younger are free. Once the admission fee is paid, guests will be able to bag what they would like to take home.
Clothes2U started in 2002 in Langley where Ernie Jantzen was giving away only adult clothes. Now he gives away clothes for all ages, in addition to toys, linens, diapers and incontinence items and small household appliances.
“It’s got to fit in the minivan,” said Jantzen.
Many events are already held in a variety of communities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. This is the inaugural event in Maple Ridge.
Clothes2U takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
Finally Heather VanOene will have her dandie dinmont terriers at a booth on the fairgrounds on Saturday until about 5 p.m. for people to be able to meet the breed and pet the dogs.
There are only 24 dogs of this breed in the entire province, explained VanOene, which is why it will be so unique to have half a dozen as part of the free Family Fest.
Then the dogs will be hitting the Family Fest stage from 2 to 2:45 p.m., where three of them – Geordie, 6, Emmylou, 7, and Basil, 3, – will be performing a routine and tricks, including dancing and playing the piano.
Although, laughed VanOene, if you are expecting Beethoven, it’s not going to happen.
To enter the exhibitor booth area of the Ridge Meadows Home Show costs $5 for singles and $8 for families. The hours for the home show and the free Family Fest are Friday 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a full stage and show schedule go to: ridgemeadowshomeshow.com/full-stage-calendar.