Thousands of people spent the Labour Day long weekend exploring the many sites and sounds of the 168th annual Paris Fair, which ran from Thursday, September 3, through Monday, September 7, 2026.
While the long-awaited end-of-summer event was set to kick off Wednesday night with the gates opening to the Campbell Amusements midway, a severe storm that swept through the region on September 2 storm forced organizers to hold off.
Despite the midway remaining closed, participants in the Brant-Wentworth Holstein Show were later able to resume their showing after the storm passed that evening.
Taking to social media, organizers reassured the community that the fair would run as scheduled on Thursday and thanked everyone for patience and support.
“Paris, we’re still here. And we’re ready. Tonight, our community weathered a severe storm. We’re incredibly grateful that everyone is safe,” they wrote. “After a night like this, it’s the people who remind us what the Paris Fair is really about: community, resilience, kindness and coming together. A huge thank you to our incredible members, volunteers, exhibitors and Campbell Amusements for your patience, compassion and determination tonight. We have seen people clean up, help one another and keep moving forward, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
With the storm passed and the grounds cleaned up, Thursday’s events continued on as planned with Toonie night at the midway, demolition derby and the opening ceremonies. While there, Grace Aulsebrook-Smith officially passed along her title to Lauren O’Nahr during the Paris Fair Ambassador competition.
As for the rest of the weekend, both residents and out-of-town visitors alike spent their days exploring the many shows, competitions, artisanal vendors and various homecraft exhibits spread out around the grounds.
Hosted every year by the Paris Agricultural Society, the fair offered a range of agriculture-themed activities and educational opportunities. From goat shows to beef shows, NBHA barrel races and horse shows, milking demonstrations, and the 4-H dairy shows, there were plenty of chances to learn more about agriculture and see livestock up close.
Guests were also sure to fill the stands to watch drivers battle their way to victory, or cheer on the daring freestyle motocross and BMX riders that launched themselves into the air doing numerous tricks.
Away from the stands, families of all ages made their way to the midway, with some taking on more thrilling rides like “Freak Out,” “Fury,” “Cliff Hanger” and the swings, while others stuck in for more classic attractions such as the “Tilt-A-Whirl, “Carousel,” “Gondola Wheel” or the bumper cars.
Because no trip to the fair would be complete without a stop for some classic fair foods, many guests took the opportunity to indulge in everything from cotton candy and poutine to funnel cake and jumbo corn dogs, walking tacos and mega mozzarella sticks. Adults and children alike happily enjoyed their fill of sweet and savoury treats throughout the run of the fair.
Beyond the midway, hundreds of visitors also stopped in for one the many Ultimutts Actors shows, character meet and greets, the annual baby show, one of two VIP 19-plus parties on the track, as well as the Chris Lane concert on Saturday, and the Brett Kissel with Lindsay Eli concert on Sunday.
Paris-area resident Anna Naim, who was attending the fair for the first time ever alongside her mother Ilona Elo and her nephew Preet Naim, said she was loving the experience.
“I didn’t realize how big it was with the rides, the food and just everything else that’s going on,” she said with a laugh. “I like anything to do with agriculture and so I’ve really loved getting to see the cattle show and all the different animals that are here as well. It’s also been really nice to bring my nephew along and watch him take everything in too.”
When asked if she would return now that she understands the hype around the long-standing community tradition, Anna’s answer was easy.
“I’ll definitely be coming every year now,” she said, with a smile.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
