The Brampton Fall Fair is an annual agricultural and entertainment event in
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton ( or ) is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Brampton is a city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is a lower-tier municipality within Peel Region. The city has a population of 656,480 as of the 2021 Census, making it th ...
. It features agricultural displays, animals, 4H events, a midway, entertainment, demolition derby, and a Homecraft exhibit.
History
The first Brampton Fall Fair was held in 1853. During the early 1830s, farmers from the 212 farms of
Chinguacousy Township, Ontario gathered at Martin Salisbury's Tavern for biannual fairs.
As the
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...
and other influences changed society, agriculture transformed from a subsistence process to a commercial industry, a change that was followed by an increase in demand for equipment, supplies, and power. The government created an act in 1853 to enable and assist counties in forming agricultural boards.
The resulting government-funded organization was the County of Peel Agricultural Society.
In 1853, a small agricultural fair was set up by the organization and held to the west of Main and Queen Streets, near the current location of Brampton City Hall.
The event was modest overall. Prized horses and cattle were showcased, and whole grains, root vegetables, dairy and other produce were displayed for sale. One could suggest this was the precursor of today's Brampton Farmers' Market. This agricultural fair eventually became the modern Brampton Fall Fair.
The original fairgrounds spanned seven acres (28328.00m²) and were located at Wellington and Main Street. The land was purchased in 1871 for $1235. This property was eventually sold to make way for the County Jail and Courthouse. The Peel Heritage Complex museum and art gallery now occupy the property. In 1884, the fairgrounds were relocated to thirteen acres of land on Elliot Street. According to ''Brampton: An Illustrated History'', the land from the Elliot Street location was sold to the Agricultural Society by William McConnell, owner of the Brampton Driving Park.
Once a highlight for farmers, draft horse competitions were replaced in the 1920s by tractor demonstrations. Still, many of the Fair's displayed picks for top riding horses went on to win at the
Canadian National Exhibition
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Canadian Labour Day ...
and
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF), also known as The Royal, is an annual agricultural fair that is held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the first two weeks of November. It was inaugurated in 1922 in the Coliseum, on the grounds of Exhi ...
.
The Junior Farmers' Building and the Memorial Arena were erected on the Brampton Fall Fair Elliot Street grounds in 1950, and the Brampton Curling Club was constructed in 1951. Because of its unique all-wood roof structure, Memorial Arena has recently been used for a
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc., commonly nicknamed Tim's, or Timmie's is a Canadian multinational coffeehouse and restaurant chain. Based in Toronto, Tim Hortons serves coffee, doughnuts, and other fast-food items. It is Canada's largest quick-service res ...
ad. The Canadian curling-themed feature film ''
Men with Brooms'' (2002), starring
Paul Gross
Paul Michael Gross OC (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian actor, director, writer, producer, and musician born in Calgary, Alberta.
Gross is known for his lead role as Constable Benton Fraser in the popular Canadian television series ''Due So ...
and
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie William Nielsen (11 February 192628 November 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters.
Nielsen was bo ...
, was partially filmed at the Memorial and the Brampton Curling Club. A lacrosse box was added to the ground in 1971.
Most residents associate the Brampton Fall Fair with midway rides and games more than agriculture and handicrafts. This association began in 1975, with the addition of Campbell Amusements. The 1980s brought antique car shows to the fair, and the 1990s brought the demolition derbies.
Present
The Brampton Fair Grounds (Now Old Fairgrounds Park) were sold to the City of Brampton in March 1992, with the exception of the Brampton Curling Club properties.
In 1995, the Region of Peel Agricultural Society bought of land at Heart Lake Road and Old School Road in
Caledon, Ontario
Caledon (; 2021 population 76,581) is a town in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. From a shortened form of Caledonia, the Roman name for North Britain; Caledon is a developing urban area, althoug ...
, moving the fair to that location in September 1997 for its 144th season.
The new location includes the Peel Junior Farmers Hall (6,000 sq. ft.), meeting rooms, the Show and Sale Pavilion (33,000 sq. ft.), ten multi-purpose buildings, and outdoor show rings.
The Fall Fair's Homecraft Division, consists of arts & crafts, photography, handicrafts, needlework, baking and kitchen craft, gardening and flowers, fruits and vegetables, quilting, arrangements, and antiques. Many of these categories have both junior and adult versions. Special categories for developmentally challenged students have been introduced recently to the fair.
There was no Fall Fair in 2020.
Fairgrounds
There are four permanent structures on the fairgrounds:
* Main Fair Entrance, Fair Offices and Junior Farmer Hall
* Agricultural Display Building
* Livestock Show and Sales Building
* Multi-Purpose Building
Highlights
; 165th
: September 15 - 16, 2018
: Theme: Into the Garden
Presidents
* 1853 Peleg Howland
* 1854 R.C. Smith
* 1855-57 John Vodden
* 1858 John Tilt
* 1859-60 James Patterson
* 1861-63 John Tilt
* 1864-65 R.A. Hartley
* 1866-67 Emerson Taylor
* 1868-69 M. Perdue
* 1870-72 J.P. Hutton
* 1873 Wm. Elliott
* 1874-75 John C. Spell
* 1876-78 Rich Hamilton
* 1879-80 James Jackson
* 1881 John Smith
* 1882-85 George Cheyne
* 1886-88 J.P. Hutton
* 1889-90 A.F. Campbell
* 1890-91 S.J. Person
* 1892 John Smith
* 1893-94 J.J. Stewart
* 1895-98 Robt. Crawford
* 1899-1900 J.H. Watson
* 1901-02 W.H. Rutledge
* 1903-04 Dr. J.F. Quin
* 1905-06 H.C.Clarridge
* 1907-08 J.D. Orr
* 1909-10 H.A. Dolson
* 1911-12 F.J. Jackson
* 1913 J.R. Cole & L.J.C. Bull
* 1914 L.J.C. Bull
* 1915-16 Darius McClure
* 1917-18 Jas. Laidlaw
* 1919-20 Albert Hewson
* 1921-22 W.B. McCullock
* 1923-24 W.J. Hunter
* 1925-26 Dr. F. Hutchinson
* 1927-28 Thos. Dolson
* 1929-30 James Tilt
* 1931-32 Frank Fenwick
* 1933-34 W. Gladstone Shaw
* 1935-36 W.L. Wilkinson
* 1936-37 J.W. Crashley
* 1937-38 Alex McKinney, Jr.
* 1939-40 Wm. Bovaird
* 1941 Charles R. Fendley
* 1942 Charles London
* 1943 Haddon Pegg
* 1944-45 J.M. Fraser
* 1946 Douglas S. Dunton
* 1947-49 J.N. Duncan
* 1950-51 Oscar Graham
* 1952-53 J.W. Wiggins
* 1954-55 Fred Gowland
* 1956 C.M. Hutton
* 1957-59 J.M. Brownridge
* 1960-61 J.J. Shaw
* 1962-63 L.R. Livingston
* 1964-65 John H. McCulloch
* 1966-67 Allen A. Andrews
* 1968-69 Richard House
* 1970-71 Donald A. Garbutt
* 1972-73 Wm. Brander
* 1974-75 Jack Klassen
* 1976-77 Wm. Taylor
* 1978-79 John M. McClure
* 1980-81 J. Albert Dunn
* 1982-83 David M. Julian
* 1984-85 John Johnson
* 1986-87 Jean House
* 1988 Ross Milne
* 1989-90 Fred Kee
* 1991-92 Joanne Currie
* 1993-95 Wm. R. Richardson
* 1996-97 Ken Williamson
* 1998-99 Trevor Small
* 2000-01 Peter Armstrong
* 2002-03 Bill Jackson
* 2004-05 Tereska Matthews
* 2005-06
* 2006-07
* 2007-08
* 2008-09
* 2017 Al Woolley
* 2018 Bill Morrison
Secretaries of the fair
Despite the job title, the position is equivalent to a manager.
* 1857-70 John Lynch
* 1871 A.B. Scott
* 1872-74 D.L. Scott
* 1875 J.P. Clark
* 1876-85 A. Armour
* 1886-1901 Henry Roberts
* 1902-10 John Cooney
* 1911-16 Miss. M.M. Kirkwood
* 1917-23 John H. Watson
* 1924-25 Robt. McCullock
* 1926-35 T.W. Thomson
* 1936 Frank Kitto, Wilma Snyder, Assistant
* 1937 D.E. Smith
* 1938-44 Fred McBride
* 1945-69 H.J. Laidlaw
* 1970-76 Robert J. Shaw
* 1977-82 Jack Klassen
* 1983 Pam Gillette
* 1983-84 Leona Allen
* 1985-88 Diane Irwin
* 1988-89 Norma Reinhart
* 1989-90 Vern Breen
* 1990-96 Ken Ewan, Brenda Bebbington, Assistant
* 1997-2018 Brenda Bebbington
See also
;Other Canadian annual fairs
*
Canadian National Exhibition
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Canadian Labour Day ...
-
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
*
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and featu ...
-
Calgary
*
Edmonton K-Days -
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
*
Pacific National Exhibition
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) is a nonprofit organization that operates an annual 15-day summer fair, 10-day winter fair, a seasonal amusement park, and indoor arenas in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The PNE fair is held at Hastings ...
-
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
*
Central Canada Exhibition -
Ottawa
*
Canadian Lakehead Exhibition -
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario; its population i ...
*
Markham Fair
Markham Fair is one of Canada's oldest country fairs, an annual event established in 1844 and hosted by the Markham, Ontario and East York agricultural society. With over 700 volunteers working on more than 70 committees, Markham Fair is the larges ...
-
Markham, Ontario
Markham () is a city in the Regional Municipality of York, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately northeast of Downtown Toronto. In the 2021 Census, Markham had a population of 338,503, which ranked it the largest in York Region, fourth largest ...
*
Red River Exhibition -
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...
*
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF), also known as The Royal, is an annual agricultural fair that is held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the first two weeks of November. It was inaugurated in 1922 in the Coliseum, on the grounds of Exhi ...
-
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
*
Royal Manitoba Winter Fair -
Brandon, Manitoba
*
Schomberg Fair -
Schomberg, Ontario
Schomberg (2021 population 2,656) is an unincorporated village in northwestern King, Ontario, Canada. It is located north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and south of the Holland River.
Schomberg is accessed via Highway 9, which links Orangeville a ...
*
Sooke Fall Fair -
Sooke, British Columbia
Sooke is a district municipality on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, by road from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Sooke, the westernmost of Greater Victoria's Western Communities, is to the north and west of the Sooke B ...
*
Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival -
Mississauga
*
Western Fair -
London, Ontario
London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...
References
External links
Brampton Fall Fair
{{coord, 43.769900, N, 79.829391, W, source:placeopedia, display=title
Annual fairs
Culture of Brampton
Fairs in Ontario
Recurring events established in 1852
Fall Fair
Tourist attractions in Brampton
1852 establishments in Canada