20+ fabulous fairs in and around Ottawa!

Do you remember that song about summer fairs from the animated version of Charlotte’s Web? “A fair is a veritable smorgasbord, smorgasbord, smorgasbord…” That’s certainly how I felt when I was a kid. What wasn’t to like, whether it was the small fall fair in my hometown in Toronto’s western suburbs, or the non-stop lights and action of the venerable CNE in Toronto? Fairs meant midways, stuffed animals, cotton candy, free food samples—just about everything kids love, all in one noisy, garish package.

If you feel the pull of nostalgia—or if your kids have been begging you to win them a stuffed animal—here are 20+ places where you can enjoy summer and fall fairs. All distances are measured from Parliament Hill.

• Blackburn Funfair (June 2 to 4, 2023) (13km from Parliament Hill)
• Beachburg Fair (July 6 to 9, 2023) (127km from Ottawa)
• Avonmore Fair (July 15 and 16, 2023) (76km from Ottawa)
• Expo Lachute Fair (July 13 to 16, 2023) (128km from Ottawa)
• Lansdowne Fair (July 20 to 23, 2023) (153km from Ottawa)
• Delta Fair (July 27 to 30, 2023) (121km from Ottawa)

• Williamstown Fair (August 11 to 13, 2023) (109km from Ottawa)
• Russell Fair (August 17 to 20, 2023) (42km from Ottawa)
• South Mountain Fair (August 17 to 20, 2023) (59km from Ottawa)
• Vankleek Hill Fair (August 17 to 20, 2023) (93km from Ottawa)
• Capital Fair (August 18 to 27, 2023) (19km from Parliament Hill)
• New York State Fair in Syracuse (August 23 to September 4, 2023) (318km from Ottawa)
• Chesterville Fair (August 25 to 27, 2023) (61km from Ottawa)
• Cobden Fair (August 25 to 27, 2023) (116km from Ottawa)
• Riceville Fair (August 25 to 27, 2023) (84km from Ottawa)
• Maberly Fair (August 26, 2023) (108km from Ottawa)

• Shawville Fair (August 31 to September 4, 2023) (77km from Ottawa)
• Perth Fair (September 1 to 4, 2023) (87km from Ottawa)
• Stormont County Fair in Newington (September 1 to 4, 2023) (75km from Ottawa)
• Renfrew Fair (September 7 to 10, 2023) (94km from Ottawa)
• Spencerville Fair (September 7 to 10, 2023) (74km from Ottawa)
• Picton Fair (September 8 to 10, 2023) (270km from Ottawa)
• Richmond Fair (September 14 to 17, 2023) (30km from Ottawa)
• Lyndhurst Turkey Fair (September 16, 2023) (129km from Ottawa)

• Middleville Fair (September 16, 2023) (70km from Ottawa)
• 1860s Fall Fair Weekend and Quilt Show at Upper Canada Village (September 16 and 17, 2023) (90km from Ottawa)
• Carp Fair (September 21 to 24, 2023) (33km from Ottawa)
• Metcalfe Fair (September 28 to October 1, 2023) (35km from Parliament Hill)
• McDonald’s Corners Annual Fall Fair (September 30, 2023) (97km from Ottawa)

Do you know of any fairs I’ve left out? Let me know and I’ll add them!

Want more tips on road trips from Ottawa—including info on hotel discounts, contests, festivals and other cool news? Subscribe to my free weekly e-newsletter or buy my guidebook, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100km Getaway Guide. I will never spam you—promise.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

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