Call it one big, rural family reunion as the 148th edition of the Carp Fair runs this weekend.
Both current and former residents of the community west of Ottawa said it's like a homecoming and fall fair put together.
"The best part about the Carp Fair is. . . all the people you run into, that's fun," said Craig Labelle.
"I like seeing all the people, all the families that come out," said Ruth Richardson. "It's just a fun old country fair."
Around 50,000 people are expected to pass through the fairgrounds, seeing friends and family but also the attractions and animals.
"People come for the heavy horse show, we can have close to 20 six-horse hitches in the ring at one time," said Joyce Trafford, the fair's general manager. "People just love to feel the earth shaking underneath them and it's a great show."
What some call the best little fair in Canada has become a sort of unofficial statutory holiday, with many skipping school and work to go.
"So many people you see this weekend and you say ‘Haven't seen you since the last Carp Fair,'" said CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem, who was born and raised in Carp. "Instead of Merry Christmas at Christmastime you say ‘Happy Carp Fair' on Carp Fair weekend."
The fair ends on Sunday.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Katie Griffin
