Cobden Fair

“August 22 – 24, 2025 – Celebrating 167 Years of Country Tradition and Community Spirit!“

From August 22nd to 24th, 2025, the town of Cobden will come alive with the sights, sounds, and excitement of the 2025 Cobden Fair, proudly celebrating 167 years of agricultural heritage and family fun. First held in 1857, the Cobden Fair is one of Ontario’s longest-running country fairs, and each year it offers a heartfelt tribute to rural life, community pride, and fairground excitement.

Whether you’re cheering at the Demo Derby, admiring livestock in the show ring, or enjoying the view from the Ferris wheel, the Cobden Fair brings generations together for a weekend full of tradition and fun.

Agricultural Excellence on Full Display

At its core, the Cobden Fair remains deeply rooted in agriculture, showcasing the strength and beauty of local farming and livestock.

• The Heavy Horse Show is a stunning display of power and elegance, where beautifully groomed draft horses and their handlers compete in traditional harness classes.
• The Sheep Show, along with the Dairy and Beef Cattle Shows, highlights the hard work of local farmers and 4-H youth as they present their animals for judging. These shows are not only competitive but also serve as an educational opportunity for the public to learn about livestock care and agricultural practices.

Midway Magic & Family Entertainment

The fairgrounds will be buzzing with energy thanks to the Midway, featuring exciting rides, classic carnival games, and all your favourite fair treats. From bumper cars and carousels to cotton candy and corn dogs, the midway is a must-visit for kids and kids-at-heart.

The Homecraft Exhibits are a beloved Cobden Fair tradition, showcasing local talent in baking, preserves, quilting, crafts, and more. These displays are a colourful reminder of the community’s creativity and connection to its rural roots.

Live Entertainment & Main Ring Thrills

The entertainment lineup at the 2025 Cobden Fair will feature live music and performances throughout the weekend. Grab a seat and enjoy the sounds of local bands, solo acts, and family-friendly performers who bring the fairgrounds to life with song, laughter, and good vibes.

One of the most anticipated events of the weekend is the Demolition Derby, where brave drivers crash and bash their way through a high-octane showdown. It’s a thrilling way to end an evening at the fair, complete with roaring engines, flying mud, and cheering crowds.

A Fair for All Generations

With its rich history and vibrant atmosphere, the 2025 Cobden Fair is a true celebration of community, agriculture, and tradition. Whether you’re competing, volunteering, or simply enjoying the fun, this fair offers a little something for everyone.

Don’t miss out—join us August 22nd to 24th for 167 years of country pride at the Cobden Fair!

History of the Cobden Fair

The Cobden Agricultural Society is celebrating 167 years in 2025! Today our hall is open for all types of events from weddings to craft fairs.  The grounds are also home to the Cobden Farmers Market which runs from May to October, Taste of the Valley in October and the Cobden Fair in August, which will host its 166th Fair in 2025.

Established in 1857, Agricultural Societies at that time, took the name of the township that they were located in. Prior to 1857 we had two fairs, one known as Ross Township Fair, held at Foresters Falls and the other known as Bromley Township Fair, holding their exhibition somewhere in the vicinity of Eganville. When these fairs united, becoming the Ross Bromley Society, their first president was Mr Ross Reilly.  The Fairs exhibits were displayed in a warehouse owned by Jason Gould, located where the Presbyterian Church stands today. The most popular event for fair goers was horse racing along the road we now know as Highway 417. There were no buildings available, so cattle and horses were tied to trees and fences in the area.

The Ross Bromley society bought land from J Donald McDonald in 1886.

By degrees the pioneers built various buildings and over time horse stables, a cattle barn, sheep and swine sheds were built.  They also built a grandstand, ring and race track.

In 1920, two more acres were purchased from Mr A Collins, resulting in the race track being made larger and a new grandstand, with a dining hall underneath, was built. The main hall was enlarged and put on a foundation with a good floor.

In 1929, a new roof was put onto the hall.

In 1947, the horse, sheep and swine barns were burned and in the following year a large horse shed was built.

In the fall of 1954, Hurricane Hazel passed through the district and blew down the new horse sheds and took the roof off the grandstand. In 1955 the horse barn was rebuilt.

In 1959, marking the centennial year, a new cement block building was built and is the oldest building on the grounds.

Since that time, there has been many changes and additions to the grounds. Over the years with the cooperation of other organizations in the community, the current building on the grounds took their shape.  In 1960, the curling rink was built and in 1963 the land for the village sports centre was proposed and the land for the outdoor rink and ball field was deeded to the village and the current Centennial building was changed to a rink.

In 1973 the cattle barn was built and expanded again in 1991.

A wash pad was added in 1983, a lean-to added to the cattle barn.

In 1975, the agricultural hall was rebuilt and in 1979 the hardwood floor was installed.

In 1978 the plans for the new arena were approved.

The curling rink was rebuilt in 1981.

More land was purchased some time in the early 80s and the centennial hall building was purchased in 1981 from the town.