Welcome back to the Port Perry Fair! It is my privilege to represent the Port Perry Agricultural Society and the 2022 Port Perry Fair. The Board of Directors has worked diligently to make this year’s fair a reality and we are excited to celebrate with you. This year’s fair has all your favourite events; the rodeo and demolition derby, the lumberjack show, a headliner concert, the midway, home craft exhibits and many new vendors. During the two year break the fairgrounds were used for car parades, car concerts, summer camps, and even a Holstein show. I’d like to thank all of the society board members, the endless number of volunteers, the gracious sponsors and community members for supporting the 2022 fair. Enjoy the weekend!
Bryon Rodd
President, Port Perry Agricultural Society
About Us
PORT PERRY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Port Perry Agricultural Society Board of Directors, members and numerous volunteers organize and run the Port Perry Fair. The Society was established in 1853 and is a member of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. This year marks the 169th anniversary of the fair.
We always welcome new board members and volunteers, it is a great way to get involved in your community and have fun at the same time. Please contact secretaryppfair@powergate.ca for more information or refer to our Supporting the Fair page on assisting the fair.
HISTORY OF FAIRS
Fairs began as a place of fellowship, exhibition and trade. Ever since the use of oxen and carts and boats shipping goods, market places were agreed upon at designated places and times. Fairs, few and far between had to deal with poor road conditions and thieves along the way. Fairs operated under the protection of a strong war Lord or Count. The Count would extract a fair ‘fee’ from the participants for his protection. Fairs differed from carnivals and markets having emphasis on exhibition, fellowship and trade. Many towns were populated around the areas that held fairs, carnivals or markets.
Agricultural Fairs specialized in agricultural products and needs. There were only a few times during a year when the farmer was free from the demands of keeping livestock or tending fields to make the difficult trip along rustic tracks to a distant fair. People in the business of buying goods from the farms and those selling wares to farmers would attend fairs. They brought with them enough comforts to entertain themselves and others to make attending the fairs both fun as well as profitable. Impromptu athletic contests and races would evolve into an evening of singing and dancing.
At the turn of the century, a county would divide its agricultural areas into local regions of 12 or 15 miles in diameter, which was the average distance a farmer could travel in a day to bring his produce. This concept established many little township fairs throughout the area. The Province of Ontario still has over 200 local fairs run by individual Agricultural Societies.
For a list of all the fairs in our District 4 area or elsewhere, please visit the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies at ontariofairs.org.
THE FAIR WHERE URBAN MEETS RURAL
The Agricultural Society runs the Port Perry Fair each year with the purpose of fostering the feeling of community, educating people on rural life and agriculture and offering a fun weekend for all Port Perry residents and surrounding areas. We educate the public on agricultural and farm life by providing and encouraging participation in demonstrations and events. Farm animal shows and contests include the 4-H Beef and Dairy shows, Heavy Horse show, Horse Pulls, Junior Dairy show and the Ontario County Holstein Show. There is a children’s fiddle contest, demonstrations of clogging and country and western entertainment. We include such popular events as the Demolition Derby, Tractor Pull, and the Extreme Rodeo and of course, the midway. The home craft exhibition draws participation from all age groups. Please refer to the Fair Book for more information on this year’s events and competitions.
*Thank you to The Scugog Standard for use of their pictures on the website.