Arthur Fall Fair marks 170 years of tradition next weekend

ARTHUR – The Arthur Fall Fair is coming next weekend.

Fair president Alaina Lennox has been involved with the Arthur Agricultural Society for 12 years since settling in the area after growing up in Alberta. 

While “Wild Rose Country” is known for its rodeos,  Lennox argues the fall fair fosters a similar sense of community, offering folks from the area an opportunity to come together.

Noting this year marks 170 years of the fair, Lennox said fair-goers will be left with a deeper sense of Arthur’s deep historical roots as a community. 

“Unless you’ve attended the fair, you don’t know what you’re missing”, Lennox said. “There’s really so much tradition.”

She also noted new features, including the agricultural awareness tent, provide fair-goers an opportunity to learn about the vital role played by agriculture. 

“People have the opportunity to get in touch with agriculture and learn where their food comes from,” she said.

Tickets for youth and adults over 13  are currently priced at $11.65 and are available for purchase at events.frontdoorplus.com

Thursday, Sept. 10

The Arthur Fall Fair starts Thursday with a kick-off beef dinner from 5 to 7:30pm.

There will also be a cake decorating event at 5:30pm and an “Arthur’s Motors & Machines” event for kids, showcasing some of the community’s mighty machines.

Friday, Sept. 11

Friday kicks off the first full day of the fair.

From 9 to 11:30am, the grounds and arena will open for the placing of exhibits, and then from 1 to 5pm the arena and hall will be temporarily closed for judging.

From 6 to 9pm, the buildings will reopen to the public, and the arena will host a farmers, artisans and vendors market.

At 7pm, there will be a parade procession starting from St. John’s Catholic Church on Georgina Street, followed by the fair’s opening ceremonies at 8pm.

Saturday, Sept. 12

The fair starts bright and early Saturday morning for livestock exhibits, but the fair proper does not start until 9am.

Notable morning events include a pancake breakfast at the Arthur Station of Wellington North Fire Services from 8 to 11am.

At 8:30am, there is the 4-H Sheep Achievement Show, a youth livestock competition showcasing sheep; at 9:30am the 4-H Beef Achievement Show, a similar competition showcasing cattle bred for beef production; and at 10:30am the 4-H Dairy Achievement Show, showcasing cattle bred for dairy production.

At 9:30am, there is the Hunter Schooling Show and Mounted Games, essentially a competition where horses traverse an obstacle course in the horse ring.

Closer to midday brings a host of new attractions for families and children. From 11am to 3pm, local artist Painted Mamma offers face painting in the main hall.

From 11am to 6pm, amusement rental company Kiddies Fun Trak will set up inflatable rides for kids.

The afternoon brings a new set of attractions, including the 4-H Livestock Open Shows: sheep, beef and dairy.

Live music will be a new part of the event this year, with a performance by the Moore Band, a family band performing rock and country standards, from 1 to 4pm.

For young and old who like the beach, there is a sand castle build at the Optimist Pavilion from 1:45 to 2:45pm.

Diamonds in the Ruff will hold its final dog agility show from 3 to 3:30pm, following an earlier show from 11:15 to 11:45am.

The arena and main hall will shut down for the day at 6pm. At the Optimist Pavilion, there will be a chili cook-off at 5pm, followed by lawn tractor pulls at 6pm.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Sunday starts with a Western Horse Show at 9:30am, before buildings open to the public at 10:30.

The farmers, artisans and vendors market will be open again on the arena floor from 10:30am to 4pm, as will the Kiddies Fun Trak inflatable park from 11am to 4pm.

At 11am, there is a Kids Power Wheels Demo Derby at Diamond B, followed from noon to 2pm by free line dancing lessons, new to the festival. 

Also starting at noon and continuing until 4pm, clown Val E. Joy will be making balloon figures and offering face painting.

More carnival entertainment will follow with a juggling show from 2:15 to 2:45pm.

The Arthur Fall Fair will conclude with a closing ceremony at 3pm, after which exhibits will begin to be packed up.