OAAS News – Brussels Fall Fair
~ September 17th and 18th, 2024 ~
The Brussels Fall Fair, celebrating its 161st anniversary, will be held on September 17th and 18th, 2024. This year’s theme, “Pork and Beans,” is a playful nod to the area’s rich agricultural heritage and promises to deliver a delightful array of events that honor the tradition while embracing fun for the whole family.
Agricultural enthusiasts will enjoy the impressive Brussels Fall Fair exhibits showcasing local produce, livestock, and farming innovations, a testament to the region’s dedication to agriculture. The livestock shows will highlight top-tier cattle, sheep, and other animals raised by skilled farmers, offering a chance for the community to appreciate the hard work that goes into animal husbandry.
One of the Brussels Fall Fair ‘s highlights will be the ever-popular barbecue dinner, where fairgoers can indulge in delicious local fare, with a special focus on the “Pork and Beans” theme. It’s a perfect way to bring the community together over a shared meal. Meanwhile, a bustling vendor’s market will offer a variety of goods, from handmade crafts to local products, providing a great opportunity to support regional artisans and businesses.
Brussels Fall Fair entertainment will be a big draw as well, with musical performances throughout the fairground, ensuring a lively atmosphere. Families can also look forward to a range of children’s activities, including inflatables and interactive games that will keep the little ones busy. The dog show promises to be a crowd-pleaser, with talented canines showcasing their skills and charm.
The Brussels Fall Fair parade, a beloved tradition, will bring color and excitement as it winds through the streets of Brussels, featuring floats, bands, and community groups. The Brussels Fall Fair continues to be a cherished event, celebrating both its agricultural roots and the lively community spirit that makes this fair a must-attend for all ages.
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 Brussels Fall Fair
