PLANTING A FIELD OF FUN
The seeds you plant today determine the fair fun you enjoy tomorrow!
The seeds you plant today determine the fair fun you enjoy tomorrow! Thanks to our friends Advantage Farm Equipment for being open to tackling our newest project for the Annual Western Fair – a corn maze!
For the first time ever, we have planted a crop in the infield of our Raceway, and we’re excited for fairgoers to get an up-close and personal look at some corn this year!
See the step by step process of planting the corn maze below!
One Fair, Happy Place for All!
Group Sales Packages and School Fundraiser Tickets are now available!
The Fair Share School Program returns this year, a group sale program that provides discounted fair admissions. For every ticket or SuperPass sold with your custom promo code, your school can raise money for programming & equipment.
The Group Sales Program offers companies the chance to sign up to receive discounted tickets to the Western Fair – an incredible way to treat your team to the amazing offerings at the annual fair.
Group Sales Packages and School Fundraiser Tickets are now available!
The Fair Share School Program returns this year, a group sale program that provides discounted fair admissions. For every ticket or SuperPass sold with your custom promo code, your school can raise money for programming & equipment.
The Group Sales Program offers companies the chance to sign up to receive discounted tickets to the Western Fair – an incredible way to treat your team to the amazing offerings at the annual fair.
A day at the fair is a fantastic way to celebrate as a company your achievements for the year. Want to make a few more on your team HAPPY? Why not recognize the success of a department, reward long-service employees, or treat ALL your valued employees and their families to a day they will never forget.
As one of Canada’s major fairs, the ten-day extravaganza is packed with hundreds of ways to Find Your Happy Place this September 5-14, 2024. Thrill rides, food, music and beer garden, free family attractions, strolling performers, farm animals, indoor displays and competitions, amazing entertainment and more will get your team in a ‘happy place’ state-of-mind.
Learn More
September’s Western Fair Celebrated Street Arts new indoor attraction, The Summit, thanks to the support of My Main Street
… the annual Western Fair was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative to support The Summit, a 10-day urban arts festival within the Fair.
Western Fair 2024 - The Summit
Western Fair District receives My Main Street support to draw visitors and increase vibrancy in London
October 16, 2024, London, Ontario: The Western Fair Association is pleased to announce that our signature event, the annual Western Fair was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative to support The Summit, a 10-day urban arts festival within the Fair.
The Summit brought amazing, talented artists to London, Ontario along with a massive indoor skate-space showcasing skaters, BMX, quads and scooter stars. “The 10-day festival within the Western Fair, brought the largest mural and urban arts stars London, Ontario has ever seen LIVE,” said Ken Galloway, Summit curator. A massive indoor skate-space, a giant photo installation, hands-on workshops, live mural painting and immersive change-making talks provided young people with a connection between their passion and their purpose.
Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, presented his photographic work depicting a migrant caravan from South America against a two-hundred-foot-wide canvas.
Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, presented his photographic work depicting a migrant caravan from South America against a two-hundred-foot-wide canvas. The street artist named Bacon, who is widely regarded as Canada’s top spray painter, created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District, as did Rime MSK, an American graffiti artist. Furthermore, a congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.
A congregation of outstanding artists lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair
“The Market is a vibrant gathering place for everyone and having urban artists painting on the park side of the Confederation Building, home to our beautiful market during the annual Western Fair, has been an amazing journey,” said Carole Sceli, Business Manager, The Market at Western Fair District. “We love the vitality it brings to the Old East Village.”
The artwork remains for the public to enjoy in person when visiting the Western Fair District throughout the years to come.
A newly built Skate Park inside the Fair’s Community Pavilion hosted some of the greatest talent from the world of action sports.
A newly built Skate Park inside the Fair’s Community Pavilion hosted some of the greatest talent from the world of action sports. Joe Buffalo, a professional skateboarder originally from Samson Cree Nation – Maskwacis, Alberta and TJ Rogers, a fan-favourite Ontario skateboarder, considered one of the greatest street skaters in the world, joined The Summit as did Jon Julio, the Tony Hawk of rollerblading and Dua Flip and Milkbox the Artist, the two top stunt roller-skaters in Canada. Ryan Williams, a pro BMX and scooter rider – widely regarded as the best in the world – was also there.
The My Main Street support received for The Summit attraction allowed Western Fair to present a new experience and attract a unique audience that might not have experienced the Fair before. Funding for
the Urban Arts aspects of the event also helped create a unique, vibrant outdoor experience in the Old East Village with the murals added to Queens Park, and they will provide a lasting gift of art and culture, for years to come. Learn more about the event at Western Fair District.
My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.
Quotes
“The Summit is one of the many impactful placemaking projects happening thanks to the federal government’s investment in My Main Street Community Activator projects. The Western Fair District has been empowered to leverage community events on their main street to create a hub of social and economic activity, setting long term change in motion.”
Mary W. Rowe, CEO and President, Canadian Urban Institute
“Communities throughout southern Ontario offer a diverse range of exciting experiences and businesses, attracting both local and international visitors to their lively main streets. Our government, through the Canadian Urban Institute, is supporting organizations that bring events and festivals, such as The Western Fair, to showcase their region. When we invest in programs like My Main Street, we’re supporting and revitalizing our local communities.”
The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Associated Links
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Media Contacts
Greg Blanchard, Media Liaison
Western Fair Association
gblanchard@westernfairdistrict.com
Ken Galloway, Curator
The Summit
kenpgalloway@gmail.com
Samantha Staresincic, Communications Manager
My Main Street
Media@mymainstreet.ca
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
Background:
About My Main Street: The My Main Street program has returned with an additional Government of Canada investment, building on an initial investment in 2021, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur local economic recovery. To date, the initial investment has supported nearly 4,500 businesses and organizations, nearly 7,500 jobs and leveraged nearly $19 million in additional investment. The funding aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program now features two streams – Business Sustainability and the Community Activator. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).
About Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders, researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban spaces across Canada.
About FedDev Ontario: For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our investment profiles, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Our Happy Place
Western Fair has many reasons to be happy, we had so much fun with ALL of you this year! We loved sharing hundreds of ways to find your happy place at the 2024 Western Fair.
Many individuals, groups, and organizations play a vital role in helping Western Fair celebrate our community and create lasting memories. Thank you to all our guests, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, employees, entertainers, educators, and partners. All the energy and dedication people invest into Western Fair is the good we do together to ensure there is always fun, and good times ahead
Western Fair has many reasons to be happy, we had so much fun with ALL of you this year! We loved sharing hundreds of ways to find your happy place at the 2024 Western Fair.
Many individuals, groups, and organizations play a vital role in helping Western Fair celebrate our community and create lasting memories. Thank you to all our guests, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, employees, entertainers, educators, and partners. All the energy and dedication people invest into Western Fair is the good we do together to ensure there is always fun, and good times ahead.
Western Fair Welcomes New Marquee Attraction: The Summit - a Global Urban Arts Festival within the Fair
The Summit is an urban arts festival within the Western Fair, that’s all about using the urban arts (from skateboarding through mural-painting) to make the world a better place. This youth-empowerment event grew out of a successful grassroots mural movement in London called The Wet Paint Initiative, which sought to “paint the change” the participating artists desired in the community.
The Summit is an urban arts festival within the Western Fair, that’s all about using the urban arts (from skateboarding through mural-painting) to make the world a better place. This youth-empowerment event grew out of a successful grassroots mural movement in London called The Wet Paint Initiative, which sought to “paint the change” the participating artists desired in the community.
“The ten-day festival within the Western Fair, will bring the largest murals and urban arts stars London, Ontario has ever seen LIVE,” said Ken Galloway, Summit curator, “a massive indoor skate-space, a giant photo installation, hands-on workshops, live mural painting and immersive change-making talks.” In an era where young people are craving deeper meaning in their daily lives, The Summit exists to connect their passions to their purpose.
Summit Highlights:
Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, will present his mind-expanding work (photographing the migrant caravan up from South America) against a 200’ wide canvas - while also leading a talk for Summit-goers and fair attendees.
A newly built Skate Park inside the Fair’s Community Pavilion will host some of the greatest talent from the world of action sports. Check out Ryan ‘R-Willy ’Williams (of Nitro Circus) an Australian pro BMX and scooter rider - widely regarded as the best in the world. Ryan will attend The Summit Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of the Western Fair to run demo’s, judge contests, host talks, and lead workshops.
Joe Buffalo a professional skateboarder originally from Samson Cree Nation - Maskwacis, Alberta will also be ripping up the massive indoor Skate Park. A pillar of strength and perseverance, as the first Indigenous skate pro in Canada, an actor, public speaker, and advocate on Indigenous health; Joe’s story is one of resilience, hope, healing, and creating change through Skateboarding.
TJ Rogers on the other hand, is a fan-favourite Ontario skateboarder, that’s considered one of the greatest street skaters in the world.
Jon Julio is the Tony Hawk of rollerblading - and is coming to flex his skills and share his knowledge, while spreading the inline gospel.
Dua Flip and Milkbox the Artist are the two top stunt roller-skaters in Canada. In addition to their robust empowerment-based programming, they will also talk about how roller-skates have ushered ladies into skateparks in the most meaningful way ever. Furthermore, Milkbox is our only dual-discipline participant - and will be painting TWO MURALS - in addition to participating in all roller-skating programming.
Rime MSK, a.k.a Jersey Joe, an American graffiti artist, born in Brooklyn in 1979, pushes on the outer-walls of his art form, and is a member of MSK; the most-respected graffiti crew in the world. Coming fresh from painting a building-sized mural in Seattle, Rime will be creating a mega-mural on The Grove at Western Fair District (once known as the Progress Building), alongside Bacon, who is widely regarded as Canada’s top spray painter.
The Wet Paint Express is also back for its second year; a project that sends an urban art train painted LIVE at Western Fair, through the London Santa Parade later in the year.
Furthermore, a congregation of world-class artists will also lead our “Queens Park Mural Transformation” a lasting gift of art and culture, to the City of London. Artists will be working on the live mural painting in and around Queens Park at the Western Fair District throughout the 10-day fair, so stop by and check out their progress in person!
Lastly, The Summit continues to reveal top action-sports talent participating daily, to help build anticipation - so keep your eyes on https://www.instagram.com/westernfairsummit/
The Summit Pass $69 (All ages)
- 10 Days of Access to the Western Fair, Skatepark access for qualified riders, meet local and international artists. This ticket is valid for entry all 10 days of the Western Fair Summit. Tickets can be scanned once per day for entry. A handstamp will be required for the same day re-entry. Summit Tickets are non-transferable and must be used by the same guest each day, ID may be requested to confirm order details. Does not include any midway rides. September 6th - 15th, 2024. No refunds.
For more Summit details visit the website www.westernfairsummit.com or connect through Western Fair’s website www.westernfair.ca to purchase a Summit Pass for those interested in participating in skate competitions and workshops.
Kids 10 & under and Big Kids 65+ are FREE at Western Fair.
Everyone else buy early and save - $12.00 Advance General Admission or $42 Advance SUPER PASS (1 Admission, 1 Ride All Day) until September 5, 2024.
Visit WESTERNFAIR.CA for all 2024 promotion and ticket information. Join the fun, rekindle the magic, and Find Your Happy Place at Western FAIR 2024.
For More Information:
Ken Galloway, The Summit, Curator
kenpgalloway@gmail.com
416-894-5125
Greg Blanchard, Western Fair Media Liaison
gblanchard@westernfairdistrict.com
226-210-4827