History of our fair

Our fair is older than Canada. The first fair was held in Port Perry around 1856, at the crossroads of what is now Manchester. An amateur report describes how it almost failed one year when only a single cow was entered in competition, and she had the misfortune to die before the day of the Fair!

It later moved into the town of Port Perry. After the disastrous fire of 1884 when the main street was destroyed, the fairgrounds moved to where they are now and became the Central Ontario Fair. The fair became well-established with the finest set of buildings outside of Toronto, including the Crystal Palace, horse stables, cattle sheds, grandstand and a $3000 race track. The fair attracted 4-5,000 people in those years. Years later all but the grandstand were destroyed in fire. Buildings have gradually been replaced and one notable building, where the Home Craft exhibits are displayed, is the Christie Building, named for Fred Christie and his family. This family has volunteered through the generations and family members have served as Presidents and Directors. The Port Perry Fair is managed by the volunteer organization officially named the Port Perry Agricultural Society.