Stratford Fall Fair 2026: Skeletons of Vivian Line
185 years of free-admission fair tradition since 1841
Dates
Sep 24–27
Cost
Free gate
Where
Stratford, ON
Midway
Thu $2/ride
Four days of free admission at the Stratford Rotary Complex — a midway, 4-H dairy and beef shows, a goat show, homecraft exhibits, and a Sunday Show ‘N Shine, all under this year’s “Skeletons of Vivian Line” theme.
🎫 Free admission
🐄 4-H dairy championship
🎡 Midway
🚗 Show ‘N Shine
💡 Thursday is Toonie Day on the midway — rides are just $2 a ticket from 4 to 10 PM, the cheapest ride pricing of the whole weekend.
✨ Why This Fair Is Worth the Drive
The Stratford & District Agricultural Society has been running its fair since 1841, and 2026 marks the 185th edition — with free gate admission every single day, a rarity among fairs of this size and longevity. That free-admission model has been a hallmark of the fair for years, making it one of the more accessible multi-day agricultural fairs in southwestern Ontario.
The 2026 theme, “Skeletons of Vivian Line,” runs through the Ambassador Competition and a bone-themed exhibit in the Community Hall, while the agricultural side stays serious: Saturday hosts the Western Ontario 4-H Dairy Championship Show, and the weekend also features a Goat Show, an Open Miniature Horse Show judged out on the green space, and a Perth County 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day Sunday morning.
Kids get a genuinely packed slate — free Lazer Tag, Lego building tables, pedal tractors, face painting, a Baby Show, a Mini Prince & Princess Competition, and even a Touch A Truck event. Sunday closes things out with a Show ‘N Shine for cars, trucks, tractors, and bikes, plus an Egg Drop competition in the afternoon.
📋 Fair Weekend Schedule
Drawn directly from the official day-by-day schedule pages. Admission is free all four days; midway pricing is separate through Campbell Amusements.
Thursday, September 24
1:00 PM — Seniors’ Euchre Tournament, $100 cash prize, $2 entry
4:00–10:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits; Skeletons of Vivian Line exhibit; Farm to You animal display
4:00–10:00 PM — Midway open, Toonie Day ($2/ride)
4:30–8:30 PM — SAS Caterers Fair Opening Special, $7/person
7:00 PM — Opening Ceremonies & Ambassador Competition, Community Hall
7:00 PM (after Ambassador Competition) — Pie Auction
4:00–10:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits; Skeletons of Vivian Line exhibit; Farm to You animal display
4:00–10:00 PM — Midway open, Toonie Day ($2/ride)
4:30–8:30 PM — SAS Caterers Fair Opening Special, $7/person
7:00 PM — Opening Ceremonies & Ambassador Competition, Community Hall
7:00 PM (after Ambassador Competition) — Pie Auction
Friday, September 25
Exhibits, Farm to You, and midway continue — full Friday schedule follows the same general shape as Thursday and Saturday; check the official schedule PDF for exact Friday-specific times
Saturday, September 26
7:00–11:00 AM — Fall Fair Farmers’ Market, North Parking Lot
9:00 AM — Western Ontario 4-H Dairy Championship Show, Arena B
10:00 AM–10:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits; Skeletons of Vivian Line; Farm to You
10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Free Lazer Tag, face painting, Lego tables, pedal tractors
10:00 AM — Goat Show, Green Space
10:00–11:00 AM — Open Miniature Horse Show registration & start
11:00 AM — Baby Show, Community Hall
11:00 AM–10:00 PM — Midway open ($40 all-day bracelet until 7 PM)
12:00 PM — School Fair Livestock Show, Arena B
1:00 PM — Touch A Truck
2:00 PM — Mini Prince & Princess Competition, Kid’s Korner
9:00 AM — Western Ontario 4-H Dairy Championship Show, Arena B
10:00 AM–10:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits; Skeletons of Vivian Line; Farm to You
10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Free Lazer Tag, face painting, Lego tables, pedal tractors
10:00 AM — Goat Show, Green Space
10:00–11:00 AM — Open Miniature Horse Show registration & start
11:00 AM — Baby Show, Community Hall
11:00 AM–10:00 PM — Midway open ($40 all-day bracelet until 7 PM)
12:00 PM — School Fair Livestock Show, Arena B
1:00 PM — Touch A Truck
2:00 PM — Mini Prince & Princess Competition, Kid’s Korner
Sunday, September 27
8:30 AM — MWHS Approved Open Horse Show, 2908 Line 37 (Vivian Rd.)
9:00 AM — Church Service, Community Hall
10:00 AM–3:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits (pickup 4–5 PM); Skeletons of Vivian Line; free activities
10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Farm to You; Free Lazer Tag
11:00 AM — 4 Paws Flying Entertainment (show #1); Perth County 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day
11:00 AM–5:00 PM — Midway open, regular pricing
11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Show ‘N Shine, North Parking Lot
1:00 PM — 4 Paws Flying Entertainment (show #2)
2:00 PM — Egg Drop
9:00 AM — Church Service, Community Hall
10:00 AM–3:00 PM — Homecraft & School Fair Exhibits (pickup 4–5 PM); Skeletons of Vivian Line; free activities
10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Farm to You; Free Lazer Tag
11:00 AM — 4 Paws Flying Entertainment (show #1); Perth County 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day
11:00 AM–5:00 PM — Midway open, regular pricing
11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Show ‘N Shine, North Parking Lot
1:00 PM — 4 Paws Flying Entertainment (show #2)
2:00 PM — Egg Drop
📌 Essentials
🎟️ Admission & Midway
Gate admission is free all four days. Midway rides through Campbell Amusements: Thursday Toonie Day at $2/ride; Saturday bracelets $40 until 7 PM; Sunday regular pricing 11 AM–5 PM.
📝 Exhibiting
Online entries via AssistExpo close September 23 at 1:00 PM. In-person entries go to the Community Hall Wednesday, September 23, between 1–8 PM. The full Prize Book is downloadable from the official site.
🚗 Show ‘N Shine
Open to cars, trucks, tractors, and bikes Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM in the North Parking Lot, with lunch provided for participants.
🎯 Best For
Families on a budget (free gate admission), 4-H and dairy exhibitors, and anyone in Perth County looking for a genuinely full four-day fair weekend.
🏛️ 185 Years in Perth County
The Stratford & District Agricultural Society dates to 1841, making the 2026 fair its 185th edition — a run that places it among the oldest fairs anywhere in Ontario. Beyond fair weekend, the Society keeps busy year-round running the Stratford Farmers’ Market (open every Saturday from 7 AM to noon), the Ontario Pork Congress, and various cattle shows out of the Stratford Rotary Complex and Burnside Agriplex.
The Society’s commitment to free admission across all four fair days is a notable point of pride, keeping the event accessible to families across Perth County even as agricultural fairs elsewhere have moved toward paid gate models. That accessibility, paired with a genuinely deep agricultural and homecraft program, has helped the fair remain a fixture of the local calendar for nearly two centuries.
🚗 Getting There
The fair is held at the Stratford Rotary Complex, 353 McCarthy Road W, Stratford, Ontario — home to the Burnside Agriplex, Community Hall, and multiple show arenas used throughout the weekend. Sunday’s MWHS Open Horse Show runs at a separate location, 2908 Line 37 (Vivian Road).
📍 Get Directions to the Fairgrounds
💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
🎫 Come Thursday for the cheapest rides. Toonie Day means every midway ride is just $2 from 4 to 10 PM — the best value of the whole weekend.
🍔 Grab the opening-night special. Thursday’s SAS Caterers deal gets you a burger or hot dog, chips, and a drink for $7 between 4:30 and 8:30 PM.
🚙 Bring your ride for Sunday’s Show ‘N Shine. It’s open to cars, trucks, tractors, and bikes, and lunch is provided for anyone who enters.
🐐 Livestock shows spread across the whole weekend. The Goat Show and Mini Horse Show are Saturday, but the 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day doesn’t run until Sunday — check the day-by-day schedule for the show you want to catch.
❓ Common Questions
Details may change — always confirm on the official Stratford & District Agricultural Society website before heading out.
Location
Get DirectionsStratford Rotary Complex, 353 McCarthy Road W, Stratford, ON, N5A 7S7
