OAAS News – Beeton Fall Fair
~ September 13th to 15th, 2024 ~
The Beeton Fall Fair, taking place from September 13th to 15th, 2024, is set to deliver a weekend packed with family fun, community spirit, and timeless traditions. As one of the longest-running fairs in the region, this annual event offers a wide variety of activities that appeal to visitors of all ages, making it a must-visit for both locals and out-of-towners.
The Beeton Fall Fair kicks off with a lively Amusement Area, featuring thrilling rides, games, and attractions that are sure to delight both the young and the young at heart. Alongside the excitement, visitors can explore the Homecraft and Agricultural Exhibits, where local artisans, farmers, and crafters showcase their best work, from homemade preserves to intricate quilts, celebrating the rich heritage of the community.
For animal lovers, the 4-H Livestock Shows and Competitions offer a chance to see the region’s finest livestock on display, while the popular Dog Show will have canines of all breeds and sizes showing off their best tricks and traits. The Beeton Fall Fair Baby Show is another crowd favorite, where the tiniest fairgoers compete for top honors in categories like “Best Smile” and “Chubbiest Cheeks.”
This year’s Beeton Fall Fair also features a Spelling Bee, where young wordsmiths can test their spelling prowess in a fun and educational competition. The Children’s Activity Area is packed with engaging activities designed to entertain and inspire the little ones, ensuring that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The Food Booths at the Beeton Fall Fair are a feast for the senses, offering a wide array of delicious treats from classic fair foods like cotton candy and funnel cakes to hearty local fare. Car enthusiasts will be thrilled by the Classic Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show, which showcases an impressive collection of vintage and modern vehicles.
Finally, the Beeton Fall Fair will culminate in the adrenaline-pumping Demolition Derby, a crowd-pleasing spectacle that promises to end the weekend with a bang.
The Beeton Fall Fair is a celebration of community, tradition, and the simple joys of rural life. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable weekend of fun and festivities!
History of Agricultural Fairs
Fairs are almost as old as recorded history. There were two types of ancient fairs: trade shows and festivals. From the biblical “Fairs of Tyre” to Sturbridge Fair in medieval England, fairs were used as market places and carnivals. In the 1700’s the British crossed the agricultural improvement society with the traditional trade fair/carnival and agricultural fairs were born.
These agricultural fairs were transplanted to the colonies by the earliest British settlers. The concept of fairs soon flourished in agrarian North America. In Canada, the first agricultural society was formed in 1765 in Nova Scotia. Ontario followed suit in 1792 with the Agricultural Society of Upper Canada based at Niagara on the Lake. From the Ontario strongholds, the concept of agricultural fairs spread west with the first settlers.
After a few false starts, the system of agricultural societies and their fairs spread all over Ontario in the 1800’s. They were organized by county and township and at one time numbered over 500 in Ontario alone. While agricultural societies used many methods (of varying success) to improve agriculture and the rural lifestyle, they’re most enduring and endearing legacy was the agricultural fair. Industrial exhibitions and festivals came and went, but the fairs just carried on. Fairs soon became an ingrained part of Ontario’s (and indeed Canada’s) culture. They still are, in our society.
Ontario Fairs have changed since their inception, but they still carry on their mandate of promoting agriculture and the rural lifestyle.
Want to see modern tradition meet the modern world? Attend a fair!
Click HERE to visit the Beeton Fall Fair
