To The Haldimand Press
It’s not an official season in the calendar, but kicking off in mid-August and running through mid-October, it is fall fair season in Ontario.
While there are community fairs happening throughout the summer, the period between the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto (which ended September 5) and Thanksgiving is packed with community celebrations that feature a midway, carnival games, demolition derbies, vendors, food trucks, demonstrations — and a snapshot of the 200-plus agricultural commodities that are produced by Ontario farmers.
“Fall fairs are a fantastic peek into rural Ontario and the farms that feed us all,” says Drew Spoelstra, Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). “The rides and games and extravagant eats may provide colour, but at their heart the fair is a celebration of the local harvest and all the fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats that we enjoy on our tables.”
From mid-August to mid-October, there are more than 160 fall fairs taking place every weekend in communities across the province, hosted by members of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.
With increasing urban pressure on rural lands and challenging economic times impacting farms as much as they impact a city family, the OFA, through its Home Grown campaign, encourages people to explore a fall fair near them and help shine a light on the importance of Ontario famers and the preservation of productive farmland.
“At a time when Ontario is losing an average of 319 acres of farmland every day, it is more important than ever that we reconnect with our rural roots,” says Spoelstra. “Fall fairs are a great resource for learning about where our food comes from, and understanding why it is so important that we protect local food and farms forever.”
The local details: Here in Haldimand County, autumn just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the Caledonia Fair. This year’s fair marks a huge anniversary for the local event as it has reached its 150th milestone year. Mark your calendars for the Caledonia Fair, running from September 29-30 & October 1-2, 2022!
The Caledonia Fair Facebook page reads, “Every year at the fairgrounds on Highway 54 in Caledonia, we combine the traditions of the country fair – livestock shows, homecraft, food, and the midway – with continuous entertainment to make Caledonia Fair a perfect autumn outing for the entire family. From homemade pie to heavy horses – we have it all.”
Although the Dunnville Fair has been on a three-year hiatus, we hope it returns in 2023!
Just outside of Haldimand County, you will find the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, which runs October 4-10, 2022. There you will find food, fun, rides, games, music, and more.
About the Ontario Federation of Agriculture: OFA is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations, and more. For more information, visit ofa.on.ca.
About Home Grown: A public awareness initiative of OFA, Home Grown is a campaign to advocate for the importance of Ontario farms as a source of food, fuel, and fibre. Arable farmland is the most important natural resource, but Ontario is losing an average of 319 acres of farmland every day. It is the objective of Home Grown to help develop a workable plan to guide responsible development in Ontario, ensuring growth to provide housing and support local tax bases while also protecting productive farmland. Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook @OntarioFarms. For more, visit homegrown.ofa.on.ca.
