CARSTAIRS – The Carstairs & District Agricultural Society’s 2025 edition of Beef and Barley Days was one for the books with successful firsts and some weather-related rescheduling.
The event kicked off on the morning of Friday, July 18 with Crooked Horn Junior Rodeo Association’s Vegas Tuffest World Junior Championship qualifier at the rodeo grounds. It was the association’s first time holding the qualifier, with a number of contestants able to move on the main event.
The wildly-popular inaugural Barley Brewfest was held at the Carstairs Curling Club later that evening featuring nearly 20 breweries and distilleries offering handpicked lineup of beer, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic options.
Pre-sold tickets to the event sold out early Friday afternoon. And while the ag society noted at the time that people could get tickets at the door, minutes before the event was to begin at 5 p.m. it said it had reached capacity.
“Thank you for all your support and thank you everyone for your tremendous effort in this volunteer-organized event and all your hard work. Also to all the incredible vendors for travelling out from all over Alberta to join us,” the ag society noted.
Rock-n-roll Bingo was held in the curling club’s lounge later that evening.
It seemed like the fireworks planned for Friday night at the golf course were going to go off without a hitch but the Carstairs Fire Department made a last-minute announcement.
“Sorry to say, fireworks are cancelled due to lightning strikes being too close.” They were rescheduled to Saturday night.
The overnight rain left the rodeo grounds drenched, leading Crooked Horn rodeo organizers to cancel the separate rodeo events planned for Saturday and Sunday “due to safety concerns.”
A pancake breakfast was held at the curling rink followed by a parade that attracted an appreciative crowd lining both sides of 10th Avenue South and Gough Road.
Kids games followed in the park with a nearby outdoor and indoor market, art shows and entertainment. A car show was held across town. The day was capped with an in-line skate party at Carstairs Memorial Arena. Church in the park followed on Sunday along with the conclusion of the all-weekend slo-pitch tournament.
