Secular. When Muskokans still segregated themselves by religious faiths and conducted separate Thanksgiving Services for bountiful harvests, the welcoming inclusivity of non-denominational fairs allowed crops and livestock to be valued for hard-working farmers’ following good agricultural practices and paying close attention to animal husbandry.
Non-partisan. Although elections involved everyone across the District, they divided folk along party lines. Fall fairs bonded the entire community around agricultural interests, free of partisan animosities.
Competitive. People like winning and the fairs offered a mother lode – from horse races, ploughing competitions, and “ring-the-bell” feats of strength, to best in class cows, cheeses, and maple syrup. Judges ranked chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, swine, cattle, oxen, horses, and sheep then handed winning owners cash prizes. Money went to top competitive producers of spring wheat, fall wheat, oats, peas, barley, rye, potatoes, butter, bread, and garden vegetables. Women alone claimed cash for fancy needlework in Berlin wool, specimen knitting, patch quilts, and worsted yarn spun at home. Self-reliance being pioneering virtue, extra prizes went to home-made boots and shoes, horse shoes, card baskets, sofa pillows, and baby’s jackets entries. Fall fairs showcased winners and spotlighted initiative.
Educational. School classes turned out to march in the Fall Fair Parade, imparting marching skills to generations. Teachers based lessons about farming and food supply around fairs. Essay and poetry categories included student categories. Farmers sounded each other out about developments in seeds, crops, breeding stock, and farm implements.
Romance. Social aspects gave fairs intriguing appeal. Dancing became a feature of many. Advent of the handy Ferris wheel provided an affectionate couple time together aloft, after dark, especially during loading stage pauses. Everyone felt a robust intimacy with nature, romanced by the glowing fair itself.
Entertaining. Fairs are complete spectacles of entertainment, watching races, eating candy floss and candied apples and popcorn, playing games of chance to win a stuffed bear, closely observing all sorts of penned livestock and live fowl, and people watching. Special attractions became features, the biggest draw ever soldiers’ First World War machine gun demonstrations.
Ageless. A fall fair offers fascinations for everyone from infants to elders.
Timeless. Fairs steadily incorporate new products, expand categories for entries, and add midway attractions that keep folks buying tickets. A place to show off, many proudly paraded in latest fashions, wowing townies and amusing country folk.
Exotic. From sparkling eyed-Gypsies operating carnival features to rarely seen poultry and new hybrid plants, fairs brought small towns a foreign flavour that was its own draw. Fairgrounds invited the adventurous to seek out something novel, or even shocking in sideshows.
Communal. Above all, the fall fair has always been a communal event. It’s a mash-up PowWow, European harvest festival, Pilgrim Thanksgiving, and amusement park. Free of politics and religion, it’s a diverse, egalitarian event. Fall fairs focus the entire community’s attention on the primordial importance of farming and our food supply.
A century and a-half of fall fairs in Severn Bridge (this year, Sept. 7), Gravenhurst, Bracebridge (Sept. 13-15), Uffington, Baysville, Utterson, Raymond, Port Carling, Huntsville (Sept 20-22), and Rosseau (Aug. 24) have been giving Muskokans fun, learning, pride in winning, and camaraderie between country folk and townspeople. A number have faded, others remain dynamic, while “near fairs” now crowd the Muskoka landscape as harvest festivals, food events, and craft exhibits.
“Going to the fair?”
