Clowns, balloon animals, drive-thru bingo, and a petting zoo came to Granite Ridge Care Community in Sittsville, ON, recently as part of their Country Fair Week.

“A lot of the residents who reside at Granite Ridge grew up in the valley and have fond memories of country fairs,” said Kayla Sparling, director of resident programs at Granite Ridge. “It can be easily forgotten that the area we are located in was previously farmers’ fields and open land, very much a true reflection of the country.”

Kayla and the recreation team often plan a few days of fun for residents and team members in late summer. She says that team members are always very excited about the days, often showing up for the events even on their days off. Inspired by their enthusiasm, she decided to combine this year’s events into an entire week of country fair fun. Several months ago, she began speaking with residents, team members, and resident families to discuss their fondest memories of the fairs they attended in their youth. Animals, food, games, and especially laughter, were the most common themes.

A petting zoo visited the care community to kick the week off. Day two featured an ice cream truck. Day three was a carnival day, with a clown, balloon twister, cotton candy machine, and classic fair games with a range of prizes. Residents enjoyed drive-thru bingo the next day, and the final day featured a concession stand fundraiser with face painting.

“So many people came together to make each day count. It makes me so proud to work at such a wonderful organization, where team members work so hard each day,” Kayla said. She added that the event would not be possible without the support of their amazing volunteers, the nursing team, and the exceptional family members who came out to the events.