Williamstown Fair

209th Covid-19 Drive-Thru edition

Not even a global pandemic can prevent the oldest fair in Canada from being staged.

Since the first exhibition was held in 1811, organizers of the Williamstown Fair have been forced to face many challenges, including two world wars, the Spanish Flu, a number of economic depressions and recessions and countless hurdles posed by Mother Nature.

But the tradition continues, albeit in a downsized format.

The 209th edition of the Williamstown Fair will be held Saturday, September 5.

“We hope to show that the Fair spirit is alive and well here in Williamstown,” states the St. Lawrence Valley Agricultural Society.

“Though a Virtual Home and Garden and a Drive-Thru fair will be a new experience for all, we want to give our community something to look forward to and be excited about participating in because the Fair is the community and the community is the Fair!”

The Drive-Thru, which will run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., will feature agricultural displays and a “reverse parade.”

At a reverse parade, rather than the parade passing by a crowd of onlookers, the floats and displays will be set up on the fairgrounds to be viewed as vehicles pass by. The grounds will be lit up during the evening.

Organizers remind visitors to follow the guidelines set out by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and remain in their vehicles for the duration of the drive-thru.

Home and Garden Exhibits

The 2020 Home and Garden classes included photo and video submissions, in addition to physical entries.

The Superheroes of 2020 theme reflected the message that “we are proud to celebrate what it means to keep not only your family safe but your community and country safe and running as smoothly as possible through this extremely challenging year!”

For more than two centuries, the Williamstown Fair has been the gathering place for thousands of area residents and visitors from afar.

In these pages, The News celebrates the fair, in its past and current forms.

See you at the fair in 2021!

ROOTS: For generations, the Sangster family of Cedar Grove Road outside Williamstown proudly participated and exhibited at the Williamstown Fair. This colourized photo, circa-1935, shows James A. Sangster, a respected Glengarry horseman with his team of Clydesdales at the Fair. Mr. Sangster's father, Robert Sangster was president of the Fair in 1904-1906, he was President in 1932, and his son, Neil, served in 1959-1960.