For over 16 years Hydro Ottawa, World’s Finest Shows midway and the Capital Fair have partnered to provide children with developmental and/or physical disabilities a private free day at the Fair. Hydro Ottawa’s funding assist and legion of volunteers make it possible for children who would otherwise not be able to attend a fair, to have one of their best days of the year.
The Special Needs Day occurs on the Thursday before the Fair. It hosts up to 1,500 special needs family members who would normally not be able to attend the Fair due to challenges with mobility, developmental or behavioral issues. Everyone attending will be treated to a fun, FREE morning of midway rides that have been especially slowed down with quieter ride music , a BBQ hotdog lunch with an ice cream dessert, a Karaoke party, live entertainment and a petting zoo.
Guests arrive for 10:00am where Hydro Ottawa volunteers assign lunch schedules and stamp everyone’s hands so they can all go to the rides right away. That’s where the fun really begins.
In the midway, volunteers from World’s Finest Midway and Hydro Ottawa help guests on and off the rides. The petting zoo and Karaoke party are open in the Kids area where lunch is provided in the Hydro Ottawa lunch tent.
A BBQ all-beef hotdog lunch is provided, courtesy of Schneider’s Canada which the Hydro Ottawa Food Preparation Team serves, followed by a Chapman’s vanilla ice cream dessert, sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Eastern Ontario.
If you are noticing a theme here… yes! Please be sure to thank all our wonderful volunteers and sponsors for their commitment and dedication to making this great day happen!
After a wonderful day at the Fair, everyone is typically exhausted and on their way by 2:00pm.
And then planning starts for next year to do it all over again.
Special Needs Day
Welcome to Special Needs Day
Hydro Ottawa, in partnership with World’s Finest Shows midway and the Capital (formerly Gloucester) Fair, has provided children and adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities to a private day at the Fair for over 16 years. Hydro Ottawa’s generosity and legion of volunteers make it possible for children who would otherwise not be able to attend a fair, to hopefully have one of their best days of the year.
The Special Needs Day is always the Thursday before the Fair opens. It hosts up to 1,500 family members to a fun and FREE morning of quieter and slower midway rides, a BBQ hotdog lunch with ice cream, for dessert a Karaoke party, live entertainment and of course a petting zoo.
Guests arrive for 10:00am where Hydro Ottawa volunteers assign lunch schedules and stamp everyone’s hands so they can all go to the rides right away. That’s where the fun really begins.
In the midway, volunteers from World’s Finest Midway and Hydro Ottawa gently help guests on and off the rides. The petting zoo and Karaoke party are open in the Kids area where lunch is provided in the Hydro Ottawa lunch tent and Doo Doo the Clown entertains the guests.
A BBQ all-beef hotdog lunch is provided, courtesy of Schneider’s Canada which the Hydro Ottawa Food Preparation Team serves, followed by a Chapman’s vanilla ice cream dessert, sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Eastern Ontario.
If you are noticing a theme here… yes! Please be sure to thank all our wonderful volunteers and sponsors for their commitment and dedication to making this great day happen!
After a wonderful day at the Fair, everyone is typically exhausted and on their way by 2:00pm.
And then planning starts to do it all again, next year.