EMBARRASS- The Embarrass Fair is all set to get underway on Friday, Aug. 28, but renovations at Timber Hall mean that some events are being moved from their traditional locations.
With the interior renovations at Timber Hall still not completed, the dozens of vendors who have typically set up inside Timber Hall will now be found in the exhibit building, between Timber Hall and the horse arena. The exhibits (vegetables, baked goods, arts and crafts, and more) will be set up inside Timber Hall. The vendors that normally operate under the eaves of Timber Hall, will remain in those locations.
Fair board members were aware that the Timber Hall kitchen would not be completed in time, so no plans were made to serve a meal inside this year. There will, however, be a wide variety of food available outdoors. Applications for food vendor spots this year exceeded the number of sites available, so there will be a healthy variety of old favorites along with some new selections.
The new expanded kitchen should be completed later this fall, and it will be set up and licensed to be used as a business incubator.
“We will be able to rent out the kitchen to chefs,” said Embarrass Region Community Association Chair Sarah Wallert-Ramponi, who can then operate “pop-up” style restaurants at Timber Hall.
“The idea of having a restaurant at Timber Hall was very important to the people in the community,” she said. “It also can serve Mesabi Trail bikers, and folks at the campground.”
Wallert-Ramponi said the community center in Finland has a business incubator kitchen, and they are using a similar model.
The fair has attracted a new crop of energetic volunteers, Wallert-Ramponi said.
“Our fair meeting last week was just packed,” she said. “We are all very excited about this weekend.”
With all the extra activities going on at the horse arena over the weekend, include a dog agility demonstration on Saturday at 1 p.m., there should be a steady stream of fair goers wandering past the exhibit building, where they will find local crafters and growers, selling everything from canned goods to home goods, as well as gifts for all ages.
Animal exhibits at the fair have been discontinued, due to more stringent state regulations, including a mandate requiring a veterinarian on site. But animal lovers will get their petting time in on Saturday, from 4 – 7 p.m. with Klatt’s Farm Petting Zoo. And of course, wander over to the horse arena to meet lots of friendly equines, who do enjoy a nose scratch or two (be sure to ask permission from their owners).
Wallert-Ramponi is excited for the new medallion hunt this year, starting at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Clues will be displayed at the info booth, and clues will be updated throughout the day until the medallion is found. There is a $200 cash prize on Saturday, and a $400 cash prize on Sunday. I can’t give out any clues, because they are being closely guarded until the hunt begins. The medallions will be hidden in different spots each day.
General information
The complete schedule is online at https://www.embarrassrfa.org/fair.
Fair hours are Friday, Aug. 28 from 2 – dusk, Saturday from 8 a.m. – dusk, and Sunday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. There are food booths, inflatables, pony rides, and vendors all three days. The softball tournament runs Saturday and Sunday at the field across the highway. The Amazing Charles magic show is at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Special events at the fair include the mullet contest on Friday at 6:15 p.m. with live music by Willy Martin and the Rangers starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday features the Flying Finn 5K run/walk at 9:30 a.m., bingo from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., the demolition derby, starting at 12:30 p.m., dog agility demonstrations at 1 p.m., Will Hale family friendly rock concert at 1 p.m., and the petting zoo from 4 – 7 p.m., and live music by the Iron Range Funk Machine at 7 p.m.
Sunday features Cowboy Church at 8 a.m., the classic car show starting at 9 a.m., horse show and games at 10 a.m., Will Hale family concert at 11 a.m., the pie-eating contest at 12 noon, and adult races at 12:45 p.m.
There will be no parade this year.