Your 2021 guide to fall fairs in the Hamilton area
Corn is on the cob and the days are getting shorter.
It's about time to break out the sweater, grab a pumpkin spice latte and bring on the fall fair.
Here is your Hamilton Spectator guide to local fairs and festivals. Because of the pandemic, some of the season's attractions remain cancelled for another year. Here's a look at some of the biggest fairs and festivals of the season as you welcome autumn and say goodbye to summer.
CNE - no
The Canadian National Exhibition held at Exhibition Place in Toronto is cancelled. theex.com
DUNNVILLE - no
The Dunnville Fair - The 27th Annual Dunnville Agricultural Fair for 2021 is cancelled. dunnvillefair.ca
DUNDAS - yes
The Dundas Cactus Festival is back on Aug. 21. You will find things different this summer as activities will adhere to Step 3 guidelines. The festival will include a live music series through the month of August at various venues, and on Aug. 21, a seated festival' in Dundas Square. The seated festival will include family entertainment (Aboriginal Drum Circle and Rock Painting) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and local musical artists from 1 to 9 p.m. Details will be posted at dundascactusfest.ca as soon as they become available.
WINONA - no
Winona Peach Festival 2021 is cancelled. You can still get 50/50 tickets for the 2021 festival. This fundraiser ends Sunday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. winonapeach.com
PARIS - yes
Paris Fair is Sept. 2 to 6, over the Labour Day weekend. Attendance will be limited to the fair this year so advance tickets are recommended. You should also note that grandstand events like the demolition derby will require tickets, try to get those when you purchase your admission. You'll find Campbells Amusements' midway, vendors, agricultural exhibits, food, dog show, magic show and more at the 2021 Paris Fair. The fair is open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The fairgrounds are at 139 Silver St., Paris. For tickets and more information visit parisfairgrounds.com
CAMBRIDGE - yes
Cambridge Fall Fair is from Sept. 9 to 12. Watch their website for a schedule and admission as it becomes available. Live entertainment includes Pauly & The Goodfellas on Saturday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. The fair is located at Dickson Park, 30 Parkhill Rd. W., Cambridge. thefallfair.ca
WEST NIAGARA - no
2021 West Niagara Fair scheduled to take place Sept. 10, 11 and 12 is cancelled. westniagarafair.ca
GEORGETOWN - no
The Georgetown Fall Fair is cancelled. georgetownfallfair.ca
NIAGARA EX - postponed
The NRE is scheduled for June 2, 3, 4, 2022. niagaraex.com
FERGUS - virtual
The 2021 Fergus Fall Fair is virtual on Sept. 17 to 19. Hosted by the Fergus Agricultural Society, the fair will still showcase local agriculture, albeit virtually. No entry fees are being applied this year. Find the fair book and registration information at fergusfallfair.ca
BINBROOK - yes
The 167th Binbrook Fall Fair is Sept. 17 to 19. It'll be simplified but they are going with a full gamut of your beloved fall fair activities; rodeo, demolition derby, midway and more. Friday night will include a demo derby and midway; Saturday will have vendors, the farmers' market, midway, animals and a rodeo; and Sunday will have vendors, the farmers' market, midway, animals, livestock shows and family entertainment. Information on admission and events will be posted on binbrookfair.org as soon as it's available. The fairgrounds are located at 222 Fall Fair Way, Binbrook.
ST. GEORGE APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL - no
Cancelled for 2021, watch their website for online activities. stgeorgeapplefest.ca
ANCASTER - yes
It's a fair of a different colour. The 171st Ancaster Fair is Sept. 25 and 26 and is using a combination of live, virtual, and drive-thru events. You will find a series of livestock shows, homecraft exhibits, vendors, midway and agricultural displays. The Ancaster Agricultural Society has modified the traditional fair format for 2021. Visit www.ancasterfair.ca or the Ancaster Fair Facebook page and Instagram page for updates.
WAINFLEET - yes
The Wainfleet Fall Fair has been modified to a one-day event on Sept. 25 which will be held mostly virtually. Tickets are available to Wainfleet and Port Colborne residents only for the live Demolition Derby. wainfleetfallfair.com
MILTON - no
Halton Agricultural Society and board of directors has cancelled the 2021 Milton Fall Fair. miltonfair.com
CALEDONIA - yes
Look for a near-normal edition of the annual Caledonia Fair on Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. It's the usual celebration of local foods and agriculture at the Caledonia Fairgrounds. Midway, demolition derby, homecraft, livestock shows and more. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, or $25 for a weekend pass. Gates are open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The fairgrounds are on Highway 54 in Caledonia. caledoniafair.ca
SIMCOE - yes
This Thanksgiving weekend tradition is a go. The 181st Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show is on. Opening Tuesday, Oct. 5, the first of seven days of the fair will begin with free admission for all Norfolk students throughout the day. The fair runs daily until Oct. 11. Online admissions, grandstand entertainment, agricultural displays, craft exhibits, food vendors, art demonstrations, talent shows and a lot more added attractions are features of the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. Safety protocols will be in place, fair organizers said in a release.
Pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds, which are located at 172 South Dr., Simcoe. norfolkcountyfair.com
ROCKTON - yes
Rockton World's Fair is also back this Thanksgiving weekend. The Rockton Agricultural Society welcomes the world to the Rockton World's Fair, Oct. 8 to 11. This four-day celebration has a midway, demolition derbies, 4-H, horse shows, chuckwagon competition, pie eating contest, standup comedy, helicopter rides and much more in keeping with health and safety codes.
The fair starts Thursday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 11 p.m. with the midway preview only. Rides this day are just $2 and there is no admission fee. Then the fair begins in earnest on Friday from 4 to 10:30 p.m. (4H show is at 11 a.m.), Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Thanksgiving Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $13 for adults, $7 for children six to 15, children five and under are free. A special family rate for Sunday is $35 (two adults, up to four children). A weekend pass is $50 adults, $20 children. There is a free HSR shuttle from Hamilton planned. You can find the World's Fair in Rockton, on Highway 8 (north of Dundas). rocktonworldsfair.com
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com