TMR's big children's fair

By P.A. Sévigny , October 3rd, 2012

Even if the skies were grey, it didn't rain and there were no problems because everybody knew the kids were going to have a great time at the town's big fair.           
Aside from all the line-ups in front of the inflated venues, there was more than enough face-painting to keep everybody looking like a cast of extras in Andrew Lloyd Weber's Québec-bound road show of CATS. While some of the girls patiently waited to get their face painted, a number of little boys kept a juggler busy while a clown dressed like a 19th century cook kept the little kids occupied with his balloons.          
 While parking was a bit of a problem, it was easy to hear the soaring violin as Quebec's own Rapetipatam kept the music going on the city's outdoor stage. Aside from the violin, a guitar and an accordion kept the music going as both Marie Soleil Pilette and Melissa Antre kept the beat with some fancy step dancing which had more than a few of the children hypnotized as they stood by the side of the stage. The juggler had his own fans as he kept all of his balls in the air while the kids kept waiting for him to drop the ball, or balls…whatever! As ever, there was tons of junk food as the boy scouts sold their hot dogs while others flogged sandwiches, poutine, and chicken nuggets. While it was serious junk food, the kids wanted it and the kids got it.
Aside from the Russian, the Spanish, the English and the French, a number of Chinese, Portuguese and Filipino children were lining up for the tiny electric train while their parents took their time around the fair's vintage cars.
With up to 20 cars on display, the parents had plenty to look at. A Model 'A' Ford was the star of the show as its driver used coal oil (a low grade kerosene) to keep both the car's headlights and back lights lit and burning. Aside from the car's double-cell battery and its cast iron engine block, it was a wonder to see the wooden spokes that supported the car's wheels on the car's original India rubber tires. There were at least two Model 'T' Fords along with a pre-war MGB and other motor city gems that came off the factory line long before Route 66 turned into an icon for the American dream.
While Philippe Roy, the town's mayor, did put in an appearance to thank all the car owners for bringing their cars to the fair, everyone knew it was a day for the town's children and even the rain made sure that it would stay that way.