Carp Fair 2026: The Best Little Fair in Canada
163 years of Ottawa Valley agricultural tradition since 1863
Dates
Sep 24–27
Cost
$6–$35
Where
Carp, ON
Parking
Free + shuttle
Four days at the Carp Fairgrounds — a Thursday-night demolition derby, world-class heavy and light horse shows, a Saturday ceremonial parade, 4-H achievement programs, and beer gardens headlined by Jade Eagleson, David Wilcox, and more.
💥 Demolition derby
🐴 Heavy horse pull
🎸 Live music nightly
🎪 Ceremonial parade
💡 On-site parking isn’t allowed — use the free lot at 3629 Carp Road and hop the complimentary shuttle bus to Gates 1 or 2.
✨ Why This Fair Is Worth the Drive
Since 1863, the Carp Agricultural Society has built the Carp Fair into one of Ontario’s most complete agricultural exhibitions — a genuine “best little fair” that draws visitors from across Canada and the United States. The horse programming alone rivals fairs many times its size: heavy horse halter classes, the Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series Finals, the North American Classic 6-Horse Hitch, and a full Ottawa Valley Hitch Series Final all run across the four days.
The 2026 beer gardens lineup punches well above a typical fall fair’s weight, with Jade Eagleson and Rainwater Whiskey headlining Friday and David Wilcox closing out Sunday afternoon. Thursday’s opening night pairs the Demolition Derby with $2 midway rides, while Saturday’s 163rd Carp Fair Ceremonial Parade anchors the busiest day of the weekend.
The 4-H program runs deep too — dairy, beef, rabbit, hog, sheep, and horse achievement days are spread across all four days, capped by a Sunday afternoon 4-H Showmanship Showcase Showdown. Add in a working antiques area with tractor parades and an excavator competition, and there’s genuinely more programming here than most visitors can see in a single day.
📋 Fair Weekend Schedule
All-weekend attractions: Storybook Farm petting zoo, Family Circle, Agricultural Awareness tent, Homecraft Exhibits, working antiques displays, and the McLaughlin Clydesdale Heavy Horse Interactive Tent. SuperDogs perform Saturday at 12, 2, and 4 PM, and Sunday at 11 AM, 2, and 4 PM.
Thursday, September 24
3:00–4:00 PM — Special Needs Midway Hour (pre-registration required)
6:00 PM — Gates open
6:00–11:00 PM — Robertson Amusement Rides, $2.00/ride
7:00 PM — Demolition Derby, Cole Family Light Horse Ring
8:00–11:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment (19+, no extra ticket)
8:00 PM — Live entertainment: The Ryans
6:00 PM — Gates open
6:00–11:00 PM — Robertson Amusement Rides, $2.00/ride
7:00 PM — Demolition Derby, Cole Family Light Horse Ring
8:00–11:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment (19+, no extra ticket)
8:00 PM — Live entertainment: The Ryans
Friday, September 25
8:00 AM — Hunter Horse Show
9:00 AM — Gates open; Heavy Horse Halter Classes
10:00 AM — 4-H Dairy Achievement Program
11:00 AM — 4-H Beef Achievement Program; Antique Tractor Parade
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
1:30 PM — Dairy Show: Holstein & Coloured Breeds Heifer Show
3:00 PM — Goat Show
6:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (first show)
7:00 PM — Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series Finals; Heavy Horse Pull
8:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (second show)
8:00 PM–1:00 AM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment (19+, ticket required)
9:00 PM — Rainwater Whiskey
10:30 PM — Jade Eagleson
9:00 AM — Gates open; Heavy Horse Halter Classes
10:00 AM — 4-H Dairy Achievement Program
11:00 AM — 4-H Beef Achievement Program; Antique Tractor Parade
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
1:30 PM — Dairy Show: Holstein & Coloured Breeds Heifer Show
3:00 PM — Goat Show
6:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (first show)
7:00 PM — Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series Finals; Heavy Horse Pull
8:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (second show)
8:00 PM–1:00 AM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment (19+, ticket required)
9:00 PM — Rainwater Whiskey
10:30 PM — Jade Eagleson
Saturday, September 26
9:00 AM — Gates open
9:30 AM — Western Horse Show; Heavy Horse Teams & Cart Classes
10:00 AM — 4-H Rabbit Achievement Program
11:00 AM — Junior Beef Showmanship; Tractor Balancing
12:00 PM — 163rd Carp Fair Ceremonial Parade; Live music in the Antiques area
1:00 PM — North American Classic 6-Horse Hitch; Kyle Felhaver Band; 4-H Market Hog Achievement Program
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
2:00 PM — Live Auction, Antiques area
3:00 PM — Excavator Competition
6:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (first show)
7:00 PM — Ottawa Valley Hitch Series Final
8:00 PM — Lawn Tractor Pull; Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (second show)
8:00 PM–1:00 AM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment
9:00 PM — Small Town Socials
10:45 PM — Silver Creek
9:30 AM — Western Horse Show; Heavy Horse Teams & Cart Classes
10:00 AM — 4-H Rabbit Achievement Program
11:00 AM — Junior Beef Showmanship; Tractor Balancing
12:00 PM — 163rd Carp Fair Ceremonial Parade; Live music in the Antiques area
1:00 PM — North American Classic 6-Horse Hitch; Kyle Felhaver Band; 4-H Market Hog Achievement Program
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
2:00 PM — Live Auction, Antiques area
3:00 PM — Excavator Competition
6:00 PM — Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (first show)
7:00 PM — Ottawa Valley Hitch Series Final
8:00 PM — Lawn Tractor Pull; Tom Bishop’s Wild West Show (second show)
8:00 PM–1:00 AM — Beer Gardens open, live entertainment
9:00 PM — Small Town Socials
10:45 PM — Silver Creek
Sunday, September 27
9:00 AM — Gates open; 4-H Horse Achievement Program
10:00 AM — 4-H Sheep Achievement Program; Junior Beef Showmanship; Miniature & Pleasure Driving Show
11:00 AM — Beef Show; Tractor Tow Competition
12:00 PM — Sheep Show; live music in the Antiques area
1:00 PM — North American Classic 6-Horse Hitch
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
2:00 PM — Custom 300
3:30 PM — David Wilcox
4:00 PM — 4-H Showmanship Showcase Showdown
5:00 PM — 50/50 Draw
6:00 PM — Fair closes for the year
10:00 AM — 4-H Sheep Achievement Program; Junior Beef Showmanship; Miniature & Pleasure Driving Show
11:00 AM — Beef Show; Tractor Tow Competition
12:00 PM — Sheep Show; live music in the Antiques area
1:00 PM — North American Classic 6-Horse Hitch
1:00–6:00 PM — Beer Gardens open, all ages
2:00 PM — Custom 300
3:30 PM — David Wilcox
4:00 PM — 4-H Showmanship Showcase Showdown
5:00 PM — 50/50 Draw
6:00 PM — Fair closes for the year
📌 Essentials
🎟️ Tickets
Historic pricing has ranged from about $6 to $35 depending on the day and ticket type. Buy tickets and confirm current 2026 pricing at carpfair.ca/tickets.
🚌 Parking & Shuttle
On-site parking isn’t permitted. Free general, accessible, and VIP parking is at 3629 Carp Road, with a complimentary shuttle running Thursday 5–11 PM, Friday & Saturday 8:30 AM–11 PM, and Sunday 8:30 AM–7 PM.
🐾 Pet Policy
Pets aren’t allowed at Carp Fair, except for service animals as required by law — leave the dog at home.
🎯 Best For
Horse show enthusiasts, 4-H families, live music fans, and anyone planning a full weekend rather than a single-day visit — there’s enough here to fill four days.
🏛️ 163 Years in the Ottawa Valley
The Carp Fair traces back to 1863, when settlers throughout Huntley Township and the rural outskirts of Ottawa began gathering annually to exhibit livestock, compare crops, and exchange farming knowledge. What started as a vital meeting place for farmers building successful homesteads has grown into one of the region’s largest and most anticipated agricultural fairs, now drawing attendees from across Canada and the United States.
The “Best Little Fair in Canada” nickname reflects an identity the Carp Agricultural Society has deliberately preserved even as the fair has grown — blending rural tradition with modern festivities like beer garden headliners and a full amusement midway, while keeping the agricultural and homecraft exhibitions that defined its earliest years front and centre.
🚗 Getting There
The Carp Fairgrounds sit at 3790 Carp Road in Carp, part of rural west Ottawa. Remember that on-site parking is not permitted — park free at the designated Parking Field, 3629 Carp Road, and take the complimentary shuttle bus in.
📍 Get Directions to the Fairgrounds
💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
🚌 Park at the shuttle lot, not the fairgrounds. On-site parking isn’t allowed, so budget an extra 10–15 minutes for the free shuttle from 3629 Carp Road.
🎫 Friday and Saturday night beer garden headliners need a separate ticket. The 8 PM–1 AM slots (Jade Eagleson Friday, Small Town Socials/Silver Creek Saturday) require an additional ticket beyond general admission — earlier sets and Sunday’s beer gardens don’t.
🎪 Saturday is the busiest day. The Ceremonial Parade, live auction, excavator competition, and hitch finals all land on Saturday — arrive early if you want a good parade viewing spot.
🐕 No pets on the grounds. Only service animals required by law are permitted — plan accordingly if you’d normally bring your dog along.
❓ Common Questions
Details may change — always confirm on the official Carp Fair website before heading out.
Location
Get DirectionsCarp Fairgrounds, 3790 Carp Road, Carp, ON, K0A 1L0
