Brampton Fall Fair facts for kids

The Brampton Fall Fair is a super fun yearly event in Brampton, Ontario! It's a mix of farm life, exciting shows, and cool entertainment. You can see farm animals, learn about farming, enjoy carnival rides, watch demolition derbies, and check out amazing crafts and exhibits made by people from the community.

History of the Fair

The very first Brampton Fall Fair happened way back in 1853. Before that, in the early 1830s, farmers from the Chinguacousy Township, Ontario would meet up at a local tavern twice a year for smaller fairs.

How the Fair Started

As the world changed with the Industrial Revolution, farming became a bigger business. Farmers needed more tools and supplies. Because of this, the government created a special group in 1853 to help counties form agricultural boards. This group was called the County of Peel Agricultural Society.

In 1853, this new group organized a small fair. It was held near where Brampton City Hall is today.

Early Days of the Fair

The first fair was pretty simple. Farmers showed off their best horses and cattle. They also displayed and sold grains, vegetables, and dairy products. You could say it was a bit like today's Brampton Farmers' Market. This small farm fair eventually grew into the big Brampton Fall Fair we know now.

The first fairgrounds were about seven acres big. This land was bought in 1871 for $1235. Later, this spot was sold to build the County Jail and Courthouse. Today, the Peel Heritage Complex museum is on that land. In 1884, the fairgrounds moved to a new, larger spot on Elliot Street. This land was sold to the Agricultural Society by William McConnell.

Changes Over Time

In the 1920s, tractor demonstrations became more popular than horse competitions. But many of the top riding horses shown at the Brampton Fair went on to win big awards at other famous events. These included the Canadian National Exhibition and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

In 1950, the Junior Farmers' Building and the Memorial Arena were built at the Elliot Street fairgrounds. The Brampton Curling Club was added in 1951. The Memorial Arena has a unique all-wood roof. It was even used in a Tim Hortons ad! Part of the movie Men with Brooms (2002) was filmed at the Memorial Arena and the Curling Club. A lacrosse box was also added in 1971.

For many people, the Brampton Fall Fair is all about the fun rides and games. This started in 1975 when Campbell Amusements joined the fair. In the 1980s, antique car shows became a part of the fun. The exciting demolition derbies were added in the 1990s.

The Fair Today

In March 1992, the Brampton Fair Grounds (now called Old Fairgrounds Park) were sold to the City of Brampton. Only the Brampton Curling Club properties stayed.

New Location

In 1995, the Region of Peel Agricultural Society bought a large piece of land. It was about 95 acres big, located at Heart Lake Road and Old School Road in Caledon, Ontario. The fair moved to this new spot in September 1997 for its 144th season.

The new fairgrounds have lots of great buildings. These include the Peel Junior Farmers Hall, meeting rooms, and the Show and Sale Pavilion. There are also ten other multi-purpose buildings and outdoor show rings.

Homecraft Division

The Homecraft Division at the Fall Fair is where people show off their amazing talents. This includes arts and crafts, photography, needlework, baking, gardening, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and quilting. There are categories for both kids and adults. Recently, special categories have been added for students with developmental challenges.

The Fall Fair did not happen in 2020.

Fairgrounds Buildings

There are four main buildings at the fairgrounds:

• Main Fair Entrance, Fair Offices and Junior Farmer Hall
• Agricultural Display Building
• Livestock Show and Sales Building
• Multi-Purpose Building