Marmora Fair 2026: Over 130 Years of Rural Tradition

Two days of horse draws, a demolition derby, and small-town fair spirit in Hastings County

📍 Get Directions Full Schedule

The Marmora Agricultural Society has run this fair since 1890, and 2026 brings a two-day edition packed with horse draws, a demolition derby, a midway, and the homecraft, livestock, and vendor displays that have anchored the event for well over a century.

🐴 Horse draws 💥 Demolition derby 🎡 Midway & kids’ activities 👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly

💡 2026 is a two-day fair (Saturday and Sunday only) — a change from some past years that also included Friday evening entertainment, so plan your visit around the weekend.

Why Go Schedule Essentials Getting There Tips FAQ

✨ Why This Fair Is Worth the Trip to Hastings County

Marmora sits roughly halfway between Toronto and Ottawa, a former iron-mining town on the Crowe River that’s built its identity around marble, minerals, and — every September — an agricultural fair that’s been running since 1890. The Marmora Agricultural Society describes its own history simply: from humble one-day fall events to a cherished annual tradition, always with a focus on local talent and rural values. That mission hasn’t changed even as the fair itself has grown around it.

What keeps people coming back is the mix of old and new. Horse draws remain one of the fair’s signature events — a genuine display of strength, precision, and the bond between horse and handler that’s hard to find outside a fair like this one. The demolition derby has become just as much of a draw, described by the society itself as loud, dirty, and pure unadulterated excitement. Around those anchor events sits a full weekend of homecraft and livestock displays, a midway run by Cope Amusements, and a vendor market — plus food concessions that change year to year, including the local “Older Boys” adult hockey club running its own booth to support the community.

Like most small-town fairs, this one runs almost entirely on volunteer effort, and 2026 marks a return to the fair’s traditional two-day Saturday–Sunday format. It’s the kind of event where the schedule can shift a little year to year, but the character of the fair — community-first, rural-rooted, and genuinely welcoming — has stayed consistent for well over a century.

🗓 Weekend at a Glance

The Agricultural Society hadn’t published a detailed 2026 act-by-act schedule as of this writing — check their Facebook page for updates as the date gets closer. Here’s the general shape of the weekend based on the fair’s confirmed programming categories and past editions. In recent years, Friday evening has sometimes carried its own musical lineup ahead of the main weekend, but the 2026 edition is confirmed as a two-day, Saturday-and-Sunday fair.

📋 The Essentials

Beyond the midway and the derby, the fair keeps a full slate of categories running throughout the weekend that reflect its original agricultural mandate — homecraft, equestrian, and livestock displays sit alongside the vendor and food vendor areas, with dedicated children’s entertainment programmed separately. It’s a structure that’s stayed consistent even as the specific acts and attractions have changed from year to year.

🚗 Getting There & Parking

The Marmora Fairgrounds sit at 28 Victoria Street, tucked behind the community arena in the heart of the village.

By car: Marmora sits directly on Highway 7, roughly midway between Toronto and Ottawa, making it an easy stop for anyone travelling that corridor over the weekend.

Parking: Parking is available at the fairgrounds. Arrive earlier on Saturday if the horse draws or demolition derby are on your must-see list — those tend to draw the biggest crowds.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

💵 Bring cash. Small-town fairs like this one often run midway tickets, food booths, and homecraft entries on a cash-friendly basis — worth having some on hand alongside a card.

💥 Arrive early for the derby and horse draws. Both are consistently the biggest draws of the weekend, and good viewing spots fill up fast.

🍔 Try the food booths. Local groups like the Marmora Older Boys hockey club run concessions to support community initiatives — a good way to eat well and support a local cause at the same time.

🌾 Check out the homecraft hall. Local baking, floral, and vegetable displays are easy to walk past on your way to the midway but reflect the fair’s original agricultural mandate.

📱 Follow along online. The Marmora Agricultural Society posts schedule updates, entertainment lineups, and any last-minute changes on Facebook in the weeks before the fair.

❓ Common Questions