The much anticipated 1860s fall fair will be held at Upper Canada Village on September 17 and 18, 2011.  From 50-cent treats, old-fashioned kids’ games and family entertainment, to heritage horse and cattle shows, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Upper Canada Village.  Visitors are invited to admire the top-prized heritage products, crops and vegetable classes.  Agricultural Exhibition Schedule.

All the best things made and grown at Upper Canada Village will be exhibited under the big tent in the fairgrounds.  Beautiful Victorian needlework and embroidery, delicious preserves, pickles and baked goods, heritage vegetables, watercolours and oil paintings, honey, cheese as well as articles showcasing early industry will be on display.  To enter, please refer to the Fall Fair Guidelines. 

What fair would be complete without fun and laughter?  Village performers are tuning up their instruments and voices to entertain the crowd with a lively program of singing and instrumental music.   The Upper Canada Village Brass Band is slated to perform on Sunday afternoon, September 18.

Steve Baker, snake oil salesman, slight of hand illusionist, mentalist and all round entertainer, will be back with three different shows each day Saturday and Sunday.  His magic and acting talent, relaxed sense of humour, and audience interaction make his shows a sure fire hit for any crowd.

Visitors are encouraged to drop in at Dr. Tilton’s phrenology tent at the fairgrounds and let him explore their heads.  Dr. Tilton portrays a phrenologist who studies the relationship between a person’s character and the shape of the skull.  The science of phrenology was taken very seriously in the 19^th century and thousands of people consulted phrenologists for advice in various matters, such as hiring personnel or finding suitable marriage partners.

A horse-drawn ploughing demonstration and heritage horse and cattle show will round out the traditional fair activities.  Those looking for refreshments will find lemonade, cider and apples in the fairgrounds as well as the always popular Village-made treats:  bread, cheese, and fudge.

Children can burn off steam by participating in several 19^th century games taking place throughout the weekend.  Ring toss, three-legged races, sack races, wheel barrow races, and tug-of-war are being organized to provide young visitors with a taste of some good old-fashioned fun.