There is just something special about visiting an Ontario fair in the fall. From early September to October, planning road trips with friends and family to hit the rides or watch a demolition derby at the fairgrounds is sure to add the perfect dose of fun for everyone to say farewell to summer.
I always find it amazing how quickly summer turns to fall here in Ontario. The Labour Day long weekend hits, and all of a sudden there’s a coolness in the air and the feeling that fall and Ontario’s fall colours are just around the corner.
For farmers, late summer and early fall means harvest and livestock trading season. I come from a long line of agriculturalist immigrants on both sides of my family. From my Mennonite Oma and Opa’s tobacco and tomato farms in Leamington (my Grandma always jokes she quit gardening at the age of 8) to my great-great-Scottish and Irish grandparents’ beef cattle farms in Durham Region (Seagrave and Sunderland), agriculture is a big part of my family’s more recent history here in Canada.
Today, fall fairs are still an important part of Ontario’s agricultural communities, but they’ve also morphed into modern mini-amusement parks and weekend entertainment destinations. Between the smells of freshly baled hay and cotton candy, sights of the biggest ribbon-slinging pumpkins and twinkling ferris wheels, and sounds of demolition derbies revving as kids scream with delight in fun houses–this is fall in Ontario to me.
The main pillar of fall fairs in Ontario, though, is they’ve become fixtures for community, celebration, and gathering together at this time of year. The fairs are all about appreciating a bountiful harvest for the year, and spending time together outdoors before we enter winter.
Lucky for us, the York, Durham, and Headwaters regions— just outside of Toronto —have some of the best fall fairs in the province. Whether you’re looking for a day filled with carnival rides, prize-winning farm animals, or just a reason to eat funnel cake for lunch, you can’t go wrong when it comes to appreciating fairs in this area.
Canada and Ontario’s History of Fall Fairs
Fall fairs in Ontario go back to early British settlers bringing over the practice of agricultural societies and fairs from England. The first agricultural society in Canada was formed in 1765 in Nova Scotia, and the earliest society in Ontario dates back to 1792 in bountiful Niagara-on-the-Lake.
By the 1800s, agricultural societies began organizing all across Ontario as a way to showcase the very best of farming in the province—from prize horses and cows to the best cobs of corn and winning apple pies. The purpose of the competitions, though, was always built as a way to honour the skill, hard work and pride of local Ontario farmers.
Today, this tradition is still alive and well. Ontario hosts over 200 fairs each year, supported by the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS). The fairs have managed to hold on to their roots while also adding in more modern festival-like activities.
Fall fairs offer the perfect mix of old and new that keeps people coming back generation after generation. Just this past Labour Day weekend, Chris and I went to the Perth Fair in Perth, Ontario (closer to Ottawa). It’s a fair Chris’s dad grew up going to, which Chris and his brother grew up coming to. And this past weekend, we went as a family with our young nephews, continuing the tradition with a new generation.
The Fun Activities of Fall Fairs in Ontario Today
If you haven’t been to a fall fair in years, you might be surprised by just how much they’ve changed, and yet how they’ve stayed the same. There’s a quality of heavy nostalgia that accompanies a trip to a fall fair, and makes it a great day or night out for a family, date or time with friends.
Here are a few highlights you can expect at a fall fair in Ontario today:
- Farm animal shows and competitions: Horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and more are on full display. Everyone from kids to experienced farmers take pride in the animals they’ve raised with care.
- Produce contests: Think giant pumpkins, towering corn stalks, or perfectly stacked bales of hay. Judging usually takes place early on in a fair, so you can walk through the agricultural buildings to see the winning ribbons displayed on each variety.
- Food: From prize-winning pies and butter tarts to food trucks serving up fair staples like BBQ chicken or deep-fried Mars bars, food is reason enough to attend.
- Entertainment: Demolition derbies and tractor pulls are huge draws at fall fairs. You’ll also find live music, local performers, and sometimes even rodeo-style events.
- Midway rides and games: Ferris wheels, tilt-a-whirls, bumper cars, and carousels keep kids (and the young at heart) entertained all day.
- Exhibitions and crafts: Local artisans and community members show off quilts, preserves, crafts, and baking. Several fairs also have demonstrations to watch–at my most recent trip to the Orono Fair, there were blacksmith and wood carving demonstrations.
What ties all of this together is the atmosphere of competition, community and celebration. There’s no wrong way to “do” a fair. Whether you’re there for the games, the food, the live competition or to cheer on the winners of the biggest pumpkin contest, it’s all fair game.
Which Fall Fairs Can You Visit Near Toronto?
As luck would have it, there are so many incredible fairs to visit if you’re looking to take a short day trip or road trip from Toronto.
I’m going to focus specifically on the York, Durham, and Headwaters regions in this article, but you can check out a complete list of Ontario’s 200+ fairs from the Ontario Agricultural Societies’ website.
Orono Fair
First held in 1851, the Orono Fair has grown into one of the biggest agricultural fairs in Ontario. What I love about this fair is how it perfectly balances agricultural tradition with big-time entertainment. They’re famous for their tractor pull event, but their demolition derby and carnival rides are nothing to scoff at.
It takes place on the first weekend after Labour Day each year, and parking is recommended north of the fair grounds.
Port Perry Fair
Dating back to 1853, the Port Perry Fair has always been a staple in Durham Region. It’s known for its strong agricultural competitions and farm animals, but also has a good dose of live music and rides for everyone to enjoy. The mix of tradition and entertainment here really showcases what a fall fair is all about.
This and the Uxbridge Fair are the fairs my great-great-grandparents would have entered into, and my Grandma and Grandpa on my dad’s side grew up going to.
Uxbridge Fair
Running since 1862, the Uxbridge Fair is another long-standing fair worth checking out. It has a distinctly country feel, with horse shows, farm animal competitions, and community contests like baking and crafts. It’s also known for its demolition derby, local performers, and classic carnival rides.
Orangeville Fall Fair
The Orangeville Agricultural Society has been hosting this fair since 1852, making it one of the longest-running in the Headwaters region. It has a strong agricultural foundation— think farm animals, fresh produce, and horticultural displays— but also layers in all the fair fun you’d expect.
Markham Fair
The Markham Fair is one of the largest and oldest in Canada, dating back to 1844. It also happens to be the closest fair to Toronto on this list. It has all the hallmarks of a classic country fair, but on a grander scale. It’s the kind of fair you’ll want to spend the whole day at to get the full experience!
Other Fall Fairs in York, Durham and Headwaters You Can Visit:
- Bolton Fall Fair
- Erin Fall Fair
- Sunderland Fall Fair
- Beaverton Fall Fair
- Richmond Hill PumpkinFest
- Woodbridge Fall Fair
Why You Should Plan a Fall Fair Day- or Road Trip from Toronto
Fall in Ontario just isn’t complete without a fair or two. The York, Durham, and Headwaters regions are home to some of the best fairs in the province, and they make for a great day or night out as summer comes to a close.
So this autumn, grab a sweater, bring your appetite, and hit the road for a fall fair. You can take it from me that there’s no better way to celebrate the season.
I’d like to thank Visit York Durham Headwaters for hosting me as media at the Orono Fair to help put together this article. All opinions expressed in this article are my own.
Bri Mitchell is a travel writer and content creator from Toronto, Ontario. She loves to highlight all things nature, food, wellness, history and adventures in her work. Bri writes and shares her travel experiences from across Canada and beyond on Instagram and TikTok @brimitchelltravels, and in her articles for travelingmitch.com, Ultimate Ontario, and here on We Explore Canada.