The Western Fair returns to London this year at a new venue with new attractions. The large midway is just one of the many reasons the fair has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.IMAGE COURTESY OF TOURISM LONDON
For exactly 100 years, farmers, growers, producers and homesteaders have come from all over Canada to The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto to exhibit their best farm animals and agricultural products.
Since that first show in 1922, The Royal has evolved into one of the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian events in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance annually to celebrate food, livestock and horsemanship. Running this year from Nov. 4 to Nov. 13, The Royal caps an extensive calendar of fall festivals and fairs in Ontario.
These fairs and festivals are a unique blend of agricultural competitions, live music, demolition derbies, carnivals, tractor pulls, games, midway rides and food vendors that has become an annual tradition for Ontarians and their families.
The Western Fair in London, which is running Sept. 9 to Sept. 18, has been held annually since 1868. Like many other live events, it’s making a comeback after two years of cancellations because of the pandemic. This year it’s being held at a new venue as well – the London Major Appliances Olympic Bowl of the Western Fair District Sports Centre. Fairgoers are certain to have a blast taking in the thrilling rides, concession stands, livestock and live attractions such as: The Canine Circus, in which dogs perform stunts and feats of courage; Smash Wrestling; The Silver Starlets, an all-female aerial acrobatics show; and Ride the Vibe, a motorcycle stunt show. This year, two concerts will feature Juno Award-nominated Valley with New Friends and Lilyisthatyou, and Canadian rockers Finger Eleven with I Mother Earth and also featuring Full Throttle.
A special feature is the Day of Dreams on Sept. 14. This annual experience is for children with special needs and their families, offering a tailored environment where the traditional bustle of the fair is toned down without the usual crowds, and the sights, sounds and smells are designed to be less overwhelming while still providing a ton of fun.
“The Western Fair is a staple and a classic in London,” says Natalie Wakabayashi, director of culture and entertainment tourism at Tourism London. “There’s a little bit for everyone, whether it’s the fall treats you get to eat, the rides you get to go on, or the animals you get to see on the agricultural side.”
The Erin Fall Fair is an annual event that’s been running since 1850 and features agricultural events such as horse shows and pumpkin contests.BARRY BEST PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTRAL COUNTIES TOURISM
If the summer festival season has been any indication, people are clamouring to get out of their homes after two years of pandemic life, Wakabayashi says.
“We saw some of our best numbers in years,” she says. “We know people are hungry for things to do. When you haven’t had the opportunity to go in a couple of years, you’re that much more excited to go and see what’s new, and have that nostalgic feeling.”
In Haliburton, Hike Haliburton, in its 19th year, is one of the longest-running hiking festivals in Canada. With more than 30 guided hikes and a collection of associated events, the four-day festival running Sept. 22 through to Sept. 25 offers participants the opportunity to discover the most compelling trails and attractions in the Haliburton Highlands. There is something for everyone, from rugged overnight hikes to casual strolls through the village of Minden with author Terry Fallis.
The Abbey Gardens Fall Festival is a classic family festival running in October in Haliburton. Abbey Gardens is a showcase for locally produced food, compelling programming and sustainable business development. A garden scavenger hunt, pony rides, fall treats and the search for the perfect pumpkin make this a go-to event for families.
Oktoberfest Muskoka is a culinary, music and beer festival featuring breweries and restaurants from Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lakes, running from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. Breweries provide tours and partner with local chefs, retail vendors and food trucks to pair their beer with locally sourced products, ingredients and menus. Look for traditional Oktoberfest culinary favourites such as roast chicken, sausages, pretzels, dumplings, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and spätzle.
“I always believe fall is our best season,” says Val Hamilton, executive director at Muskoka Tourism. “You have the benefits of summer still, but there are no crowds, there are no bugs. You get to enjoy everything.”
In the Kawarthas Northumberland region, there’s a series of agricultural fairs all steeped in history and tradition. The Norwood Fall Fair, being held over Thanksgiving weekend, brings friends and neighbours together to celebrate the harvest. Held in the picturesque village of Norwood, the fair has been around since 1868 and features a horse show, beef show, live entertainment, games for kids, lawnmower racing, a midway, bingo and more. The Port Hope Fair in Northumberland County, running Sept. 16 to Sept. 18, has been around since 1831 and is one of those old-fashioned agricultural shows Ontario is so well known for. A midway, tractor pull, equestrian show and barnyard animals on display are just a few of the popular attractions.
BARRY BEST PHOTO COURTESY OF CENTRAL COUNTIES TOURISM
The 168th Lindsay Exhibition (Sept. 17 to Sept. 25), run by the Lindsay Agricultural Society, will feature numerous livestock competitions and the 164th Bobcaygeon Fall Fair (Sept. 29 to Oct. 1) is another celebration of agriculture and includes horse shows, a goat show, beef cattle judging and a petting zoo, as well as truck and tractor pulls, talent shows, midway rides and more.
In York Durham Headwaters, which comprises three regions all very accessible from downtown Toronto, many of the agricultural fairs are competition qualifiers for The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The Erin Fall Fair has been a pillar in the community since 1850 and its mandate is to create awareness and foster education about agriculture, farming and country life. Local businesses, town residents, farmers, and agri-based organizations all come together in support of the fair that’s running on Thanksgiving weekend.
Susan Boyle, director of marketing at Central Counties Tourism, calls it a wonderfully authentic patchwork of kids, chickens, goats and sheep, with horse competitions, pet shows and a farmers’ market.
“Volunteers and farmers make their way to the fairgrounds just as the sun is rising to prepare their show cattle, compete with their horses and to bake apple dumplings,” she says.
Other fairs in the region include the Bolton Fall Fair (Sept. 23 to Sept. 25), which annually showcases craft beers and ciders, and Durham’s Gates Open (Oct. 1 and Oct. 2), which is a region-wide, self-guided farm tour celebrating Durham Region’s natural resources, finest farms and farm life.
Regardless of where you live in Ontario, or where you might be planning to venture this fall, there is no shortage of fairs that celebrate the best of the province’s harvests and agriculture, and capture the excitement of midway rides and live entertainment.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.