The Highgate Fair

It’s Highgate Fair Day today, folks – the 171st edition. That’s longer than Canada’s been a country, for those keeping track at home. 

Highgate Fair was a big deal when I was little – all the school kids entered examples of their penmanship and crafts, there were entries of the biggest and best vegetables, and an entire building dedicated to baking and home crafts. My mom was the Baking Queen and/or Sewing Queen back in the day, multiple times. There’s a little parade through the village, and back then, the Queens got to ride in a car in the parade. I think there was even a sash, the whole deal. 

I remember one time when I was quite little, school age, I’m sure, but not very old. My mom had to take my sister to an appointment or something, so she left me on my own at the fair. Not a big deal – we knew all the adults who were there, and we were related to half of them, so there were dozens of sets of eyes on me. She gave me some money for lunch and went on her way. Well, it was pouring rain that day, but they happened to have pony rides for some ridiculously low fee. I spent all my money on pony rides, in the rain, and never did have lunch. When my mom got back to the fair, I was soaking wet, with an empty belly. She was so exasperated with me. I was always a smart kid, but not smart enough to come in from out of the rain, apparently. 

Fast forward to 2020 and 2021, and the Fair was cancelled due to COVID. I did some baking entries in 2022, and got the taste for victory!  I was determined to be the Baking Queen in 2023. I implemented Operation Baking Queen – there were spreadsheets, and timelines, and project plans.  I took a week off of work so I could focus on the execution!

After all was said and done, I was Baking Queen. Some hard realizations: it’s now called the Baking “Winner”. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?  There’s no more riding in the parade, and there’s no sash or tiara.  That’s maybe the hardest pill to swallow!  I had 62 entries – I have no idea how much money I spent on ingredients, not to mention the time – and had $202 in prize winnings. Worth. Every. Penny. 

I didn’t enter anything in 2024, nor this year. I’ve already been Queen.