Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show

Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show

Historic images
Genre fall fair
Dates from the Tuesday before Canadian Thanksgiving until Canadian Thanksgiving Monday
Location(s) 172 South Drive, Simcoe, Ontario
Years active 175

The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show is an annual agricultural fair that takes place in the town of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. This festivities begin on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and ends on the Canadian Thanksgiving Monday. The official organizers for this annual event are the Norfolk County Agricultural Society.[1]

Since 1840, the fair has been active in Norfolk County on the 48-acre (190,000 m2) complex.[2] It is considered to be the fourth largest fair in Ontario.[3] Out of all the festivals, the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show is considered be the 88th best festival in Canada and has repeatedly been named as one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario.[4] Operated by the Norfolk County Agricultural Society with 400 volunteers organizing the event on an annual basis, this autumn fair attracts almost 100 community organizations and local businesses.[5] More than half a million visitors come to the Norfolk County Fairgrounds annually while the annual event attracts 120,000 people from outside the local community.[5] Being the leading producer of vegetables in Ontario, the Norfolk County Fair helps to demonstrate the best of Norfolk County's produce to the rest of the province.[5]

Attractions

Inside one of the buildings, students from all over Norfolk County submit their artwork to be evaluated by the local judges. The top prize winners receive a small monetary cash prize. Larger prizes are offered for professional art, riding, horse, cattle and poultry shows. Other buildings feature commercial inventions and innovative technologies demonstrated to the local populace. Large vegetable and field crop competitions are held, including the classics like the heaviest pumpkin.[3] In the past years, winners have weighed in more than 1,000 pounds or 450 kilograms.[3] More than $120,000 are handed out every year in prizes related to gardening and agriculture.[5] Homecraft and Childcraft are a big part of displays with some of the finest in quilts and culinary arts at all age levels. Traditional and historic displays make this a "must see" area when tourists come to visit from near and from far. Commercial demonstrations and product offerings remain a big part of "the Fair."

Patrons can still see them first with a variety of products which are either hand crafted or have been recently advertised on television. Innovative services are also being demonstrated and/or sold within the confines of the commercial building. Haggling is allowed to the merchants and is strongly encouraged. The rides consists of some of the world's finest travelling amusements for children, teenagers, and adults alike. One of Canada's largest horse shows, this local competition features many kinds of horses from miniatures, jumpers, Clydesdales and even Percherones.[3] The horse competitions, pulls and an eight-horse hitch parade are all a part of the traditions of this annual fair.[3] Cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, poultry and animals from every field and pen put on their finest coats for judging at one of the most important fairs on the circuit. People attending the fair are encouraged to real close to meet them nose to nose on competition days.

All around the facility is student art, displays and more special interest entertainment.

Food and entertainment

Both classic and new carnival-style foods like cotton candy, dixie dogs, pulled pork, french fries are everywhere.[6] Patrons can enjoy the fresh taffy and fudge made on site as the demolition derbies, tractor pulls and finest Canadian stage acts take place Friday and Saturday nights.[6] Popular bands like Emerson Drive, Blue Rodeo, and The Roadhammers have all entertained the fair with their individual style of beats and lyrics in the past years.[6]

During the 2013 edition of the Norfolk County Fair, Canadian performer Carly Rae Jepsen performed in front of a packed grandstand audience.[7] She did a fair number of her famous songs and had the young people enthralled.

Canadian pop rock band Marianas Trench has been schedule to perform in the 2015 edition of the fair.[8] They have been active in the music scene since 2001.

Local pride

Local schools are given opening Tuesday off from school to enjoy Young Canada Day at the fair; they receive a free admission and compete in competitions. While the festivities of the fair are occurring, the Simcoe Rec Centre is used to provide exhibition space for Flavourfest.[6] This celebration brings out the best in local produce and products that patrons can purchase on-site. On stage are demonstrations and shows with star chefs like Lynn Crawford and Massimo Capri in the kitchen while regional artists and bands perform.[6]

References

  1. ↑ OAAS - Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show at Ontario Fairs
  2. ↑ Norfolk County Fair - History
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Norfolk County Fair - Overview
  4. ↑ Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show at Festival and Events Ontario
  5. 1 2 3 4 Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show at FairsEverywhere.com
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show at WestJetFestivals.com Archived July 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Rae Jepsen Live at Norfolk County Fair - Simcoe, Ontario Facebook. Retrieved, July 11th, 2014
  8. ↑ Marianas Trench at Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe, Ontario Simcoe Reformer, Retrieved September 21, 2015

Coordinates: 42°49′48″N 80°18′26″W / 42.830078°N 80.30714°W / 42.830078; -80.30714

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