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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Stuffed animals and wobbly balls: It's Ex time
John and Carol walk away with a giant pepper prize Saturday evening at the Ex. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
WHEN it comes to leaving the Red River Exhibition with a huge stuffed animal, many try to win, but few succeed.
Clutching a large female Smurf stuffed toy, Adrian Alinsod can count himself as one of the lucky ones.
But Alinsod can also count on his wallet being a bit lighter too.
"Thirty bucks," Alinsod said smiling as the giant Smurf sat on a bench between him and his wife, Maria.
"I spent 30 bucks on it. I had to put two balls in plastic tubs. It's for my daughter. She wanted it. Actually, she wanted a tiger, but I would have had to win two of these and trade them in.
"I wasn't going to do that," he added, laughing.
Yes, it's Red River Exhibition time again and for the next week people will be able to try to win their own stuffed toys, scarf down everything from mini-doughnuts to deep fried cheesecake to corn dogs, and test their bravery on a plethora of amusement rides.
Twenty-month-old Zuri Quan sat with wonder at the bottom of a large sealed plastic ball as it was pushed into a swimming pool and floated on top of the water. Before too long, Quan was busy crawling inside, making the ball float to the edge of the pool.
"She likes the water and she likes jumping so she should like this," said Quan's grandmother, Alma Bernier.
"She also likes bubbles, and when we were walking by she said 'oh, bubbles.' Now she gets to ride in a bubble."
Mark Gagnon, owner of Wobbly Water Balls, said anyone from three to 70 would have fun on the ride. "We had two 70-year-old ladies go on it the other day and they had a blast."
Today the exhibition opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes at midnight. There is a free pancake and sausage breakfast served from 10:30 am. to 11:30 a.m., and gate admission is free between those hours if you donate a non-perishable food item.
Tonight, '80s new-wave band Platinum Blonde takes the stage at 8 p.m. They are best known for their hit Crying Over You.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 17, 2012 A6
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