County Fair looks to bring people together

Times Reporter

 

The second annual Calgary Diocesan County Fair- the Palio will be in Strathmore on June 18 at the Agricultural Society grounds. 

“It’s a reason for all in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary and Southern Alberta and their families to get together. It’s just to celebrate families, and so it’s open to everyone,” said Michael Subasic, one of the organizers of the event. 

Subasic said there hadn’t really been an event to get everyone together previously, so they decided to create one. The fair is to get people together to have a fun day with their families without spending a lot of money. 

It’s set to be a fun filled, yet relaxing day. There will be mass with Bishop Henry starting at 11 a.m., with priests from different parishes involved. 

The kids will have a chance to get their faces painted and play in some of the bouncy houses. Parents will have an opportunity to shop at some of the many vendors who will be selling every thing from fruit to art.

The fair will also feature the running of the horses, which is set to take place in the afternoon. 

“The running of the horses is based on Palio di Siena. It’s just a little district near Siena, Italy, and basically what they would do is all of the little townships or regions from within Siena would get together and put a rider and a horse into a race and just run for the winning of the day,” said Subasic.

“It was basically to win a thing called the Palio, which was a silk screened piece of art.”

In Strathmore there will be one horse representing each parish in the diocese, and the winner of the day will get to take a banner, which is a picture of the virgin Mary, back to their parish.

Baseball enthusiasts will also get a chance to take part in the parish versus parish ball games.   

“Really it’s just a day of fun, to relax and enjoy the weather,” said Subasic.

The gates open at 9:30 a.m. though Subasic said the real activities and fun will begin after mass. 

Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 for children and seniors, tickets are available at the entrance gate. To find out more information go to www.palio.ca