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There are three new rides at this year's Elks Fair. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)
amusement

Attendees stream into La Ronge Elk’s Fair

Jul 19, 2024 | 2:26 PM

The 2024 La Ronge Elk’s Fair is underway with 5,000 attendees expected each day.

The fair began at 10:30 a.m., specifically for clients of NorthSask Special Needs who may have sensitives to loud sounds, lights and crowds. The owners of Canucks Amusements also offered them gifts before the fair opened to the general public at noon.

Environment Canada is forecasting above 30 C temperatures for Friday and Saturday, so residents are encouraged to bring sunscreen and water to beat the heat. The beer gardens will be open to those of legal drinking age.

“If they do bring water, they have to have closed bottles,” said Elks member Brett Haugen. “You can’t get in with open water bottles and stuff. If they have containers, we have a fill station.”

The Elk’s Fair will be held July 19 to 21 and there will be 18 rides, as well as numerous food and merchandise booths, games of chance and more. Three rides are new this year including the Expo Giant Wheel, Atlantis and Reckless.

As for entertainment, Set to Flames will be performing Friday starting at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the talent show will begin at 1 p.m. with 20 different performers. Ten finalist will go on to perform on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. The talent show has $2,250 in prizes.

The Elks Fair has activities available for all ages. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

There are nine teams ready to compete in the inaugural Terry ‘Babz’ Isbister Memorial Slo-Pitch Tournament. That will occur starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will continue on Sunday. The slo-pitch tournament has a guaranteed $10,000 cash payout.

As for security concerns, Haugen encourages any fair attendees to contact the La Ronge RCMP if they witness any suspicious behaviour. He noted Elks member do their best to keep everyone safe, but won’t risk putting any volunteers in a dangerous situation.

“We are doing everything we possibly can. We’re checking bags, we’ve clear all the bush along the fence lines, so we can see if people are getting. We can’t police it. It’s a long fence,” Haugen said, adding incidents of bear macing and those inside the beer gardens are uncommon.

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com