Meet Me At The Fair

Let’s travel back in time and revisit the excitement of the Fair when it came to town on
Labour Day weekend. My memories of the Belleville Fair span seven decades of
excitement and anticipation leading up to opening day. We lived on the West Hill and
had a front-row view of everything! Traffic was diverted from Catherine to Bridge Street
West as the big trucks from Conklin Midways rumbled into town. The workers set up the
rides, tents and food trailers, cranked up the music and swung open the gates to let in
the hordes of waiting fairgoers.

The RCMP Musical Ride was a crowd pleaser with the onlookers and often signalled
the start of the Fair. On horseback, the team of up to 32 police officers performed
complex formations and drills set to music for approximately 30 minutes.
From the crowded Midway, lined with colourful flags and banners, the sounds of the
barker announcing the side show acts boomed. Large oscillating fans blew the enticing
smell of fried onions across the Midway, and hungry or not, we felt compelled to eat
something! The hamburgers, french fries, hot buttered popcorn and sticky candy apples
were hard to resist. Cotton candy tightly wrapped on a cardboard roll and melting ice
cream cones called out as we strolled by.

The majestic Ferris wheel, lighting up the evening sky, stood guard, overlooking the
entire fairgrounds. The carousel with calliope music went up and down, round and
round on brightly coloured wooden horses. The half-price children’s rides were a big hit
with kids and families alike. The Tilt a Whirl, Scrambler, Zipper, Round-Up, Roller
Coaster, Polar Express and Bumper Cars attracted large crowds and long lineups.
Teenage girls flirted with the carnival guys; Games of Chance were everywhere, and
winning a stuffed animal was a highlight of the evening. We bumped into friends,
families, neighbours and acquaintances we hadn’t seen in ages and stopped for a quick
catch-up visit.

It was a quieter but busy scene, wandering through buildings that displayed award-
winning baking, quilting and creative hobbies. The photo and art exhibits were a must-
see for the budding artistic crowd.

The Agriculture Building was bursting at the seams with rows of fruit and vegetables of
every size and colour. We visited barns chock full of poultry, dairy, beef and 4- H
exhibits. It was exciting when the crowd gathered, awaiting the judge’s award of a first-
place ribbon. There was even a baby show in the 1960s, where the best baby was
chosen. I’m still not sure how the winner of that contest was decided. They were all so
cute!

Situated near the Midway, the Curling Club stood slightly apart. It was home to a
spacious collection of displays featuring Real Estate, Insurance, Vehicles, Trailers,
Travel, Pet Supplies and promotional material of every kind. We stopped at all the

booths, picking up brochures stuffed into the free plastic bags. In my later real estate
career, I got to hand out my branded goodies bags to everyone I met.
The Grandstand featured top-notch events, including The Hell Drivers, Dirt Bike Races,
and the Truck and Tractor Pull competition. The evenings showcased Demolition Derby,
Concerts, Stage Shows, Harness Racing, off-track betting and the Midway nightlife.
Belleville’s Quinte Exhibition and Raceway has been an essential part of our city for
over 200 years. It predates Canada’s forming, Ontario’s, and even Belleville’s forming!
In 1821 The Midland District Agricultural Society opened Belleville’s first recorded Fair.
In the early days of the 1860s, the latest innovations in seed and equipment populated
the booths, and spirited livestock competitions were held. The Agricultural Society
awarded prizes from Best Heifer Calf and Best Bantam Hen to Best McIntosh Apples
and even the Best Woolen Mittens.

The Belleville Fairgrounds added a race track and horse racing in the early 1900s, with
the winners taking home up to $50 for the first place purse.
Over the years, there were many name changes, including the original 1821 Midland
District Agricultural Society, 1849 Victoria District Fair and Cattle Show, 1860 Bay Of
Quinte Fair, and 1861 South Hastings Agricultural Fair. Finally, in 1954 it was named the
Belleville Fair/Quinte Exhibition.

The Belleville Fair and the innumerable hard-working volunteers have contributed their
time and talent to gather our community together for over 200 years!
Take a stroll along the old hillside streets in the west end and pause to recall the
electrifying sights, resonating sounds, and tantalizing smells of the past. Picture the
promise of future memories to be made at the exciting new Belleville Fair when it comes
to town.

Intelligencer Quote
At the 1913 Belleville Fair, crochet work in wool, pencil drawings, landscape photos, and
the best loaf of bread won 50¢ each for the top prize.