NIVERVILLE OLDE TYME COUNTRY FAIR

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Small town country fairs often boast a mix of the old and the new, the timeless bonds of food and community mixed in with midways and flashing smartphones. This summer, the town of Niverville is no exception.

At the Old Tyme Country Fair, except to see the town taken over by jousting knights in full suits of armour, followed by motocross stunt riders leaping through the air on their bikes.

“My mother is 95 years old and she gets a hold of me and says ‘I wanna watch the bikes’, especially the jumping,” Jeff Stott, the main festival organizer, says. “It takes place right in front of your eyes. It’s not something you sit 400 feet away from.”

“The risk is high, and the result so far has been positive, nobody getting hurt,” Stott says.

Along with a group of committed volunteers, Stott has been organizing the fair for 20 years. He’s committed to bringing the best of the big show to his small town, including acts like the jousting knights and motocross that were discovered in Brandon and beyond.

Affordability is also important to Stott, and a key element of the Olde Tyme spirit. “It’s a bargain, plus you get a nice time outside,” he says. The price of admission includes a whole host of complimentary treats, like soup, pork on a bun, ice cream, donuts and coffee.

Part of the series: The 7th Annual Summer Festival Guide

Published in Volume 69, Number 27 of The Uniter (June 3, 2015)

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