OAAS News – Sydenham Fall Fair
~ September 19th, 2024 ~
The Sydenham Fall Fair, scheduled for September 19th, 2024, stands as one of Canada’s most unique agricultural fairs, deeply rooted in the community’s history since its establishment in 1853. As one of the last remaining school-based agricultural fairs in the country, it offers a special educational experience while celebrating the agricultural heritage of the region.
Students and families will gather to participate in a day full of Sydenham Fall Fair activities, exhibits, and competitions that blend education with fun. A key highlight is the Pet Show, where children proudly showcase their beloved pets, fostering a love for animals and responsibility. The Pony and Livestock Shows will also feature prominently, giving attendees a chance to see prize ponies, cattle, and other livestock up close. These shows not only celebrate the hard work of local farmers and breeders but also serve as an important educational opportunity for students learning about agriculture and animal care.
One of the most exciting events of the Sydenham Fall Fair is the Farmer Olympics, where participants of all ages can engage in friendly competition, testing their farming skills in a series of fun and challenging activities. This event is always a hit, bringing out the competitive spirit while celebrating the hard work of farmers.
Sydenham Fall Fair exhibits and educational displays will highlight the importance of agriculture in the community and showcase the students’ projects, artwork, and handiwork. Whether it’s learning about local farming techniques or viewing a variety of livestock, the fair offers numerous ways for attendees to engage with the agricultural world.
The Sydenham Fall Fair continues to be a beloved tradition, not just for its long-standing connection to agriculture but for the way it bridges generations, educating young minds while bringing the community together.
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 Sydenham Fall Fair
