McKellar Fall Fair 2026: 151 Years in Parry Sound District

Tug-of-war, a horse show, and a brand-new Open Mic event fresh off the 150th anniversary

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Tug-of-war, arm wrestling, a baked goods competition, a horse show, a livestock display, a parade, and a brand-new Open Mic event — a small-township fair that just celebrated 150 years and is charging into its next century.

🪢 Tug-of-war 🐴 Horse show 🎤 New Open Mic 🎪 Parade

💡 Some fair rules and quilt category sizes changed for the 2026-2028 Fair Book — grab a copy at the Township Office or Library before you enter anything.

Why Go Highlights History Essentials Getting There Tips FAQ

✨ Why This Fair Is Worth Knowing About

The McKellar Agricultural Society has run this fair since 1875, and 2025 marked a genuine milestone: the 150th anniversary. That kind of longevity is rare for a township with a population barely over 1,400 people, and it speaks to how central this fair remains to the community’s identity. 2026 carries that momentum forward as the 151st edition — the start of the fair’s next century.

This is a fair built around genuinely old-fashioned competition: tug-of-war, arm wrestling, and races sit alongside a baked goods competition, a horse show, and a livestock display. New for 2026 is an Open Mic event, registered through the McKellar Public Library — a nice sign that the Society isn’t just preserving tradition but actively adding to it. The fair book itself was refreshed for 2026-2028, including new quilt category sizes, so even longtime exhibitors will want to double-check the current rules before entering.

Set in McKellar Township along Highway 124, about 25 kilometres east of Parry Sound, this is a genuinely rural, low-key fair experience for anyone exploring the Almaguin Highlands or Parry Sound District in early September. With over 15 lakes and miles of trails in the surrounding area, it’s easy to pair a fair visit with a broader day out in the region.

🎪 Fair Day Highlights

The McKellar Fall Fair runs as a single day, packed with competitions and community programming rather than a fixed hour-by-hour schedule.

📋 Good to Know

🕰️ 150 Years and Still Growing

McKellar Township was settled around 1860 and incorporated in 1873, and the Agricultural Society formed just two years later in 1875 — meaning the fall fair is almost as old as the township itself. In a community with a population that’s never been especially large, sustaining a fair for 150 consecutive years is a genuine achievement that speaks to how much the event means to residents.

The Society keeps a photo archive going back to historic fair days, including footage from the 1975 Centennial Parade that’s been shared on the fair’s website. That kind of institutional memory — where directors actively preserve and share decades-old photos and videos alongside brand-new additions like the Open Mic event — is part of what makes McKellar’s fair feel like a living tradition rather than a static yearly obligation. It’s the sort of small detail that separates a fair genuinely run for the community from one run purely as a fundraiser.

🚗 Getting There & Parking

The McKellar Township Community Centre sits at 701 Highway 124, in McKellar, Ontario, about 25 kilometres east of Parry Sound. The centre itself is a genuine community hub year-round, hosting movies, sports, and the local library alongside the fair.

From Parry Sound: Follow Highway 124 east directly to McKellar — a straightforward, scenic drive through the Parry Sound District countryside.

Parking: The community centre has a large parking lot, described by reviewers as plentiful and well-maintained.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

📖 Grab the new Fair Book before entering anything. Rules and quilt category sizes changed for 2026-2028 — don’t rely on a previous year’s copy.

🎤 Register early for the Open Mic. It’s a new addition for 2026, so seats or slots may be limited — check the Forms page or the Library for the registration form.

🪢 Don’t miss the tug-of-war. It’s one of the fair’s signature events and consistently draws a strong crowd.

📱 Check the official site closer to the date. As a Google Sites-hosted fair page, mckellarfair.ca is the most reliable source for last-minute schedule or pricing updates, and it’s updated directly by the fair’s own directors.

❓ Common Questions