149 Years Later, Fair Favourites Return for Everyone

Ask a Londoner what makes the Western Fair the Fair, and chances are it’s something they remember from childhood.

The animals. The rides. Racing pigs. Creative Arts. The crash of the Demolition Derby. Fair food. And, for many, the excitement of now introducing their own kids or grandkids to those same traditions.

For 149 years, Fair favourites have become family traditions. And while a lot has changed along the way, one thing hasn’t: the Western Fair is a place for the community to come together.

From September 11–20, those favourites are back for 10 days, along with plenty of ways to help make a day at the Fair work for more families and more budgets.

All the favourites that make it the Fair

Animals are at the heart of the Western Fair, with pigs, cattle, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, chickens and horses filling the Animal Barn. Live milking demonstrations and agricultural activities bring a little bit of the country into the city.

Beyond the barns, there’s Fair entertainment around every corner.

Aces Flying Pig Races return for multiple races each day, while Canine Circus and the Grand Illusion Show featuring Aaron Matthews bring family entertainment to the TD Theatre.

Keep an eye out for Bandaloni the One Man Band and Doo Doo the International Clown roaming the grounds, too.

Inside the McCormick Community Pavilion, the Tomco Carousel Stage will showcase community talent, classic competitions and Circus Surreal’s tricks and stunts. Nearby, Creative Arts presented by Comfort Suites London continues a generations-old tradition of sharing handmade creations with the community.

And, of course, Happy will be back for 10 days of hugs, high-fives and photos.

But some Fair traditions are a little louder than others.

The Jayden’s Mechanical Grandstand will once again come alive with Monster Trucks and FMX Showcases, featuring 10,000-pound trucks, freestyle action and stunts.

Then there’s the Demolition Derby, delivering two nights of crashing, plus a night of Figure 8 racing.

From September 11–13, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Canadian Championship will also bring Canada’s top athletes to the Fair as they chop and saw their way toward a spot at the World Championships.

And it’s all included with Fair admission.

Big Fair fun for real budgets

A day at the Fair can include animals, shows, demonstrations, Creative Arts, exhibits and live music — all with one admission.

Buy in advance and general admission starts at $15. An advance SuperPass is $50 and includes admission plus unlimited midway rides for one day.

Even better, kids 10 and under and big kids 65 and older get in free, making the Fair an easy place for three generations to spend the day together.

Getting here can be free, too. Through Fare to the Fair, your paid Western Fair ticket gets you free LTC transportation to and from the Fair throughout all 10 days.

Making sure more people can be part of it

Keeping the Fair accessible goes beyond ticket prices.

On September 18, Day of Dreams, sponsored by Westland Insurance, returns with a sensory-friendly Fair experience before the gates open to the public. The program will welcome 400 registered children with special needs and their families, with approximately 1,000 people expected to take part in the afternoon.

The Fair Share Fundraiser is also back for its third year, giving schools and registered non-profits a way to raise money through Fair ticket sales. Participating organizations receive $1 from every general admission ticket and $2 from every SuperPass sold through their program.

And after a successful first year, Community Hours, sponsored by Old East Village BIA, return on opening day. From 3–5 p.m. on Friday, September 11, admission is free for everyone.

It’s all part of something that has been at the heart of the Western Fair for nearly a century and a half: creating a place where everyone can find their happy place.

Because 149 years later, Fair traditions aren't only about remembering what you did as a kid.

They're about getting to share it with the next generation.

The Western Fair runs September 11–20, 2026, at Western Fair District in London.

For schedules, tickets and everything you need to plan your day, visit westernfair.ca.