Drayton Fair kicks off return of in-person agricultural exhibitions in northern Wellington

DRAYTON – Fair season in northern Wellington kicks off on Aug. 5 with the first full-scale Drayton Fair since 2019.

The Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society has themed this year’s event, set for Aug. 5 to 7 at the local fairgrounds, “Another Day in Fairadise.”

The fair includes truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby, livestock competitions, several new children’s activities, food vendors, a pet show, baby show, and a wide variety of competitions and exhibits including culinary classes, roots and vegetables, youth competitions and home crafts.

Gates open Friday night at 5pm and the local truck and tractor pull begins at 6pm. The event ends Sunday afternoon with the popular demolition derby, which begins at 1pm.

Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson says the annual fair offers residents and visitors “an opportunity to celebrate our agricultural heritage.

“Our Mapleton/Drayton Agricultural Society volunteers have been working hard to bring all of us another great fair experience,” the mayor stated.

“We can all look forward to truck and tractor pulls as in previous years. But also come for the beef, dairy, goat and sheep shows, to name a few.”

Full details on the fair, including a schedule of events, can be found at draytonfair.ca.

A demolition derby will be part of the action at the Drayton Fair, Aug. 5 to 7. Photo by Sue Hogenkamp

 

Next up in the return of in-person agricultural exhibitions to the region is the Mount Forest Fall Fair on Aug. 20.

The one-day fair features a Western Show, exhibits, indoor craft sale, exotic animal show, pet shows and more at the fairgrounds in Mount Forest.

More information can be found on the 2022 Mount Forest Fall Fair Facebook page.

The Palmerston Fair runs Aug. 26 to 28 at the fairgrounds in Palmerston.

An official opening and ambassador of the fair competition opens the event on Aug. 24, with fair events kicking off Friday night with an evening parade on Aug. 26, followed by the Taste of Minto dining experience.

Saturday activities include a tailgate garage sale, cake decorating challenge, baby show and “Auction of Champions.”

Sunday events include a church service, dog agility show and a roast beef dinner.

More information is available at palmerstonfair.ca.

Next up in northern Wellington will be the Arthur Fall Fair.

Set to run from Sept. 8 to 11, the fair includes an ambassador competition, 4-H shows and displays, a baby show, chili cook-off, pet and frog jumping shows, agricultural and homecraft competitions, Western horse show and a demolition derby.

For details go to arthurfallfair.com.

“Flannel Shirts and Denim Skirts” is the theme of the Harriston-Minto Fall Fair, which takes place at the fairgrounds in Harriston from Sept. 16 to 18.

A parade, soap box derby and demolition derby will all be part of the fun.

The fair will also feature horse and cattle shows, a dog show, baby show, agricultural awareness displays and other competitions and exhibits.

Details can be found at harristonmintofair.ca.