Paris Fair benefits from partnerships

PARIS -- The Paris Fair is playing in big leagues.

On Tuesday, fair manager Russell Press and other organizers unveiled the details of three "unprecedented" partnership marketing agreements for Brant County's annual event.

They're with the Calgary Stampede, the Canadian Country Music Awards to be held in Hamilton, and Paris's sister act to the south, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, held every year during Thanksgiving week.

Visitors to the 153rd edition of the Paris Fair, Sept. 1 to 5, will see that extravaganza's ability to do advance marketing for the Calgary Stampede's 100th anniversary in 2012 and the country music awards.

"It's unprecedented," Press said of the agreement between the Stampede and the Paris Agricultural Society. "It's never before been done that such an iconic event is partnering with a county fair in Ontario."

After early informal discussions, Press struck a deal with Calgary Stampede officials that would have the Paris Fair distributing Calgary Stampede brochures to up to 80,000 people expected to go through the main gate on Silver Street.

Also under the deal, the Stampede will be branded continuously throughout the fairgrounds, with plenty of giveaways. The Stampede also will offer prizes yet to be announced.

Opening night of the Paris Fair will be called the 2012 Calgary Stampede Event Bowl.

The Paris Agricultural Society has signed an agreement with the Canadian Country Music Association to market that group's Canadian Country Music Awards in Hamilton the following week.

The centrepiece of the deal is a dedicated concert on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 4, featuring top award-winning country artists. The grandstand will be transformed into the Paris Fair CCMA stage.

Although a number of yet-unidentified singers will be there, Victoria Banks, the 2010 female artist and songwriter of the year, has been signed to take the stage at 6:30 p.m. she will be followed at 8 p.m. by Gord Bamford, the 2010 male artist, album and video performer of the year.

The evening will give a boost to the Canadian Country Music Awards on Sept. 12 in Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.

"We're excited that Paris will be a final stop just before our event," said Wendy Rose, the CCMA's marketing director.

From July 1 to Aug. 30, fairgoers will be directed to the Paris Fair website Facebook page where they will be asked a series of questions. The first e-mail to be posted on a particular day that answers the most questions correctly will win a CCMA ticket for two to Hamilton, including the awards show in Copps Coliseum.

Clay Aiken – Celebrating Two Countries | Clay Aiken News Network

On October 12, 1492, an Italian seaman named Christopher Columbus first stepped foot on the soil of the Americas, bringing with him European culture, goods, religion and practices. While other Europeans and Asians had arrived in the “New World” before him, Columbus made sure to publicize his discoveries throughout Europe. His adventures spurred a wave of exploration and expansion throughout the Americas.

Columbus Day is marked as a national holiday in the United States, with most banks, some financial markets, federal agencies such as the US Postal Service, most state government offices, and many school districts closed for the day. In most states in the U.S., Columbus Day is met with parades and salutes to Italian American Culture.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.   Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated in much the same way as in the United States.  How was the turkey and Pumpkin Pie?

What holiday will Clay Aiken be thinking about today?  Is he joining his son in celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving or is he in New York, out and about and joining the throngs who celebrate Columbus Day by watching the famous holiday parade.  Whatever he is doing, we can all wish him the very best of two holidays in two countries.

In 2005, Clay was featured on a Canadian TV show titled E-Talk Daily.  The show was taped in Toronto when Clay was in town for the JukeBox Tour.  It was broadcast on October 10th.

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