Leamington Fair in 174th year, June 10-12

By Mark Ribble

The 174th edition of the Leamington Fair will take place on June 10-12 after a two-year hiatus, and officials are promising a really big show.

Faced with another summer of uncertainty, but buoyed by announcements of other events going ahead, the Board of Directors of the Leamington District Agricultural Society decided back in March that the Leamington Fair was going to happen in 2022.

The new amusement company — World’s Finest Shows — had been procured prior to the pandemic and were set to bring the fair’s midway back to prominence before the 2020 version of the fair was cancelled.

Now, with World’s Finest Shows still on board, the Leamington Fair is back and ready to entertain fairgoers with a lineup of events, music and entertainment.

According to Society President Dan Wiper, this year has been a challenge, but they are confident they can put on a great show for the community.

“We’re working hard to get things together so area residents can have a great show,” he said. “We’re a small but mighty group.”

He says that the midway will feature some never-before-seen rides on the grounds.

“They are bringing some great rides,” he said. “People will see stuff they’ve not seen here before.”

Signs for the fair are popping up throughout the area and word is spreading fast on social media.

Along with the all-new midway, there is one other big change for this year’s fair.

Actually, it was supposed to change in 2020, but COVID delayed that until this year.

A new all-inclusive wristband admission will cover all events and rides for $25 per person each day.

Children under 32 inches tall will be admitted for free.

“There will be no more buying tickets to go on rides,” said Wiper. “You pay the $25 and can ride all day, an unlimited amount of times.”

Leamington District Agricultural Society Secretary Jen Robinson, left, with President Dan Wiper. The two are hoping for great weather and large crowds for this year’s Leamington Fair.

SUN photo

The $25 admission also includes the events lined up for each day of the weekend. You can walk in at the south gate or drive in at the north gate. There is a $5 (per car) parking fee if you drive in.

The fair will kick off Friday afternoon with the opening of the gates and midway at 4:30 pm.

Classic Championship Wrestling will invade the grandstand area at 7 pm as wrestlers compete in the ring set up on the racetrack.

At 9 pm, Destroyer — a KISS tribute band — will hit the entertainment stage and rock the fairgrounds for the evening.

The Bubble Zone and ventriloquist Yvette Locke will be there to entertain the children as well.

The horse paddock will be open throughout the weekend, as well as the culinary, homecrafts and school exhibits, and some animal and livestock displays.

On Saturday, June 11, the fairground gates will open at 8 am, with the midway starting up and the sight and sounds of ‘Fair Weekend’ filling the air.

The annual Leamington Fair Pet Show will take place at 9 am.

At noon, the Bubble Zone will open again and the always popular children’s bicycle draw will take place in front of the grandstand.

After the bike draw completes, the wrestlers will return to provide mayhem and excitement for all in attendance at the grandstand.

Yvette Locke will hold a show at 3 pm on the entertainment stage as she brings her puppets to life.

At 5 pm, the grandstand will fill with people and the infield will be awash with roaring engines and rowdy drivers as the annual demolition derby gets rolling at its new start time.

Local teenage phenoms, Leave Those Kids Alone, will take the stage at 7 pm, rocking into the night before the stage is turned over to Bad Romance at 8:30 pm.

Sunday’s festivities start at 8 am and include an open mic for local bands and musicians as well as continuing displays, the midway and the Bubble Zone.

The fair will close its gates at 5 pm on Sunday.

Wiper says there are even bigger plans for 2023 when the fair will celebrate 175 years.