One Fair, Hundreds of Ways to Find your Happy Place
Western Fair is our Happy Place, and one of Canada’s oldest community traditions, welcoming EVERYONE for 10 days of fun every September, and we are gearing up to share our Happy Place with you!
As one of Canada’s major fairs, and a Top 100 event in Ontario the ten-day extravaganza is back and packed with hundreds of ways to find your happy place this September 6-15, 2024. Thrill rides, food, concerts and entertainment, indoor displays and competitions, animals, and attractions will get you in a ‘happy place’ state-of-mind.
For Immediate Release: London, Ontario, Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Western Fair is our Happy Place, and one of Canada’s oldest community traditions, welcoming EVERYONE for 10 days of fun every September, and we are gearing up to share our Happy Place with you!
As one of Canada’s major fairs, and a Top 100 event in Ontario the ten-day extravaganza is back and packed with hundreds of ways to find your happy place this September 6-15, 2024. Thrill rides, food, concerts and entertainment, indoor displays and competitions, animals, and attractions will get you in a ‘happy place’ state-of-mind.
New Happy Places!
Nightly Sky Spectacular – Stay for the day and catch our nightly sky spectacular. Experience a stunning drone extravaganza, performed by animated, synchronized, drones dazzling audiences in the sky above. Choregraphed in a variety of aerial flight formations and sky messages to delight all ages and make a drone enthusiast out of you.
History of The Carnival – Step right up and enjoy a blast from the past. A unique display of various artifacts, photos, and historical pieces from the world of fairs and carnivals.
Adult Lego Competition – This one is for the Big Kids! Are you an adult fan of Lego (AFOL), then this MOC (My Own Creation) Lego competition is for you and your friends. Check out Western Fair’s Prize Book Competitions page for more details www.westernfair.ca
10 or More Creative Arts Entries = FREE Pass to the Fair. Fair Competitions provide artists and hobbyists an opportunity to showcase your talents during the annual fair. Register your arts, crafts, photography, baking, preserves, horticulture, quilts and more, check out www.westernfair.ca
Character Corner – Meet and greet some of your favourite personalities from Thomas the Tank Engine, Trolls, and Paw Patrol in this interactive indoor kids fun zone.
Crystal Promenade - Enhanced outdoor shopping experience – make sure you check out this quaint stretch of outdoor fair exhibitors, especially in the evening when crystal light wrapped trees light up the glittering walkway, amongst all the rides, food, and attractions.
Fair Square Marketplace – All our fabulous indoor shopping is displayed in one mega square inside the Community Pavilion - tons of stroll-and-shop fun.
Fair Food Court - Check out new and favourite fair food concessionaires inside the Community Pavilion next to the Fair Square marketplace. Conveniently located indoor near Kiddyland, Guest Services, Public washrooms, and a dedicated seating area. Relax, make your feet happy, and enjoy a savory or sweet food option.
Fair Tunnel Mural - Check out the new urban art mural inside the Fair’s Tunnel Gate leading to Kiddyland from the main parking lot. Created by Moises Frank an amazing street artist and member of the Wet Paint Initiative, for the 2024 Western Fair.
Visit Happy at the Happy Camper Visit our beloved Western Fair Mascot – ‘HAPPY’ at the Happy Camper for a must-have photo. HAPPY is a mascot made from bits and pieces of all our happy places. Look for a giant, furry, candy floss pink Muppet-like creature, with corn dog fingers and a candy apple nose. Their big, pink, belly is wrapped in flossy fur like cotton candy on a stick, and it rolls like a bowl full of jelly, full of elephant ears, snow cones, and deep-fried cheese on a stick. Get a big pink HAPPY hug, with arms so long and warm you will never forget their embrace.
Outdoor Concerts - Outdoor performance square by day, and Western Fair’s new outdoor concert* venue by night, this space will be trending in fair socials this September as your new Happy Place. Nothing better than seeing your music stars, under the stars. * Fair Concerts will be announced by July 1, 2024, Canada Day.
Rock and Ride Promo – Discover Western Fair’s newest opportunity for advance savings with this special opening weekend music lover’s promo. Opening weekend concert ticket purchasers have the opportunity to buy a Ride All Day bracelet for just $30 when they purchase an outdoor concert ticket. Rock to the music and ride the midway, with an advance early bird opportunity to SAVE. Concert and ride fans can take advantage of the special discounted Ride All Day Midway Bracelet when they purchase a ticket to one of three Western Fair opening weekend concerts. Ride bracelet must be purchased with an opening weekend outdoor concert ticket. Ride bracelet can be used on the day of your concert selection or return to the Western Fair on another day with your $5 Bounce Back Admission coupon and ride the midway.
Stadium Series* – Western Fair’s Concerts at The Sports Centre, don’t worry about the weather, enjoy your favourite artist indoors with reserved seating, general admission floor and the comfort of air conditioning, indoor washrooms, ushers, and stadium seating. *Stadium Series concerts will be announced by July 1, 2024, Canada Day.
OEV Music Garden with returning favourites, new artists, and amazing Tribute Bands. Great selection of local libations available at The Music Garden, along with easy access to a multitude of food choices from near-by outdoor food vendors, grab a bite, then grab a seat in the Music Garden.
Returning Happy Places!
The Barn/ Farm Animals – Visit an array of pigs, sheep, goats, water buffalo, donkeys, dairy cattle, beef cattle, llamas, and alpacas, located in the Animal Barn (look for the Giant Wheel) closest to Egerton Street.
Agriculture Education - Enjoy displays from Egg Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Sheep Farmers, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Ontario Pork Producers. Catch a milking demonstration with Dairy Dave, and a chance to hand milk a (fake) cow courtesy of Middlesex Dairy Producers. Try your hand at being a grain farmer with The Fair Farming Game. See what the ‘buzz’ is all about inside a honeybee hive and learn what a healthy vs. unhealthy hive looks like! (No Live Bees).
Family Fun at The Barn - Bouncing Barnyard – little ones will go YEEHAW when they take a ride on these fun, whimsical, inflatable farm animals with soft gripable ears to hold onto while they bounce around the mini-barnyard. Grab a selfie or family-gram at The Barn and look for ‘Trigger’ the racehorse standing by his Sulky (race bike) – a great Western Fair photo op.
The Peanut Train – An agriculturally-based street-art project that brings together six world-class and local street artists to paint agricultural wagons (Peanut Wagons). The breathtaking six-car train is unveiled at the Western Fair each year and then travels through the London Santa Claus Parade during the holidays. The project was conceived by the Risky Play Gallery and is one of many Wet Paint Initiatives in London, Ontario.
Ride the Vibe - An intense performance of freestyle trial motorcycle stunts. Check out some of the best in the business with athletes who have performed at big name events all around the world. Find your Happy Place watching these fearless drivers leap onto a bus, perform helmet scraping low backflips, rolling nose-wheelies and more! Monday thru Sunday at the Fair.
Creative Arts Competitions Chance to win a ton of ribbons and prize money for talented community members who create and enter our fair competitions. Register 10+ entries and receive free admission to Western Fair. Register your arts, crafts, photography, baking, preserves, horticulture, quilts and more, check out www.westernfair.ca
Kiddyland Stage
Doo Doo the Clown– Western Fair’s favourite clown is back this September. Nominated best clown in the world by his mom you should check out his silly, unbelievable comedy show. Catch-up to him strolling the fairgrounds with his unbelievable antics and performing on the Kiddyland Stage daily.
Grand Illusion Show - Aaron Matthews offers a grand-scale illusion show that feels like it’s taken straight off a Vegas stage! Featuring grand illusions & interactive segments with the crowd, you can experience steel passing right through a human body mid-air, witness a human crawl through a magician’s stomach and his assistant cut in four pieces…have your mind blown by some of the worlds fastest illusions!
Bex in Motion - Take a spin with Bex in Motion, a one-of-a-kind performer who incorporates, comedy, acrobatics, juggling and mesmerizing hula hoop tricks like spinning up to fifty hula hoops at once! Bex puts on a show that is sure to move you!
Bella The Snow Queen – Bella’s magic show is a wonderous experience that will engage and delight all ages. Watch in amazement as her enchanting crystal ball will float across her hands and arms, delicate silks flutter in the air, magical sing alongs captivate your heart, hypnotic spinning snowflakes twirl from her hands. This snow themed princess show is an interactive magical combination of illusion, dance, singing unlike anything you have seen before.
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.
Corporate Group Sale Packages are also available for businesses that want to offer value pricing for their employees, as well as private groups of 15 or more. Check out WESTERNFAIR.CA
Fair Share School Fundraising Program - This school group sale program provides discounted fair admissions, and for every ticket or super pass sold with your school’s specific promo code the school can raise money for programming or equipment. For every General Admission sold through the Fair Share School Program, the Western Fair will donate $1 to the school and for every Super Pass (admission plus ride bracelet) the Western Fair will donate $2 to your school. Check out www.westernfair.ca
Join the fun, rekindle the magic, and Find Your Happy Place at Western FAIR 2024.
Form more information:
Greg Blanchard, Western Fair Media Liaison
gblanchard@westernfairdistrict.com
226-210-4827
Thank you
Western Fair wishes to thank all our guests for their continuing support along with all our employees, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, entertainers, educators and sponsors for their invaluable contribution to our signature event.
Till next year, make today and every day a happy one until we see you ALL again.
Photo from 2023 Western Fair
Western Fair wishes to thank all our guests for their continuing support along with all our employees, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, entertainers, educators and sponsors for their invaluable contribution to our signature event.
Till next year, make today and every day a happy one until we see you ALL again.
The Wet Paint Express premieres at the the Western Fair
Mural painted by artist Megan Oldhues, displayed in the Agriplex lobby at the Western Fair
Western Fair is working with The Wet Paint Initiative, a grass-roots initiative led by Risky Play Gallery. The project will bring together several world-class street artists; who will each paint both sides of an agricultural train (peanut wagons) showcased at the Western Fair.
The train will hopefully tour through other community events like this year’s Santa Clause parade after its premiere at the Western Fair before returning to Picard’s Farm, to be used for the peanut harvest.
The exhibit is located in the heart of the Western Fair’s Community Pavilion, where visitors are met with the unexpected sight of grand peanut wagons decorated with meaningful murals inspired by street art.
This year's Wet Paint Express - Peanut Wagon exhibit is a juxtaposition of urbanization that meets the rural spaces of Canadian agriculture- a connection that bridges and showcases the ever-evolving diversity in "small towns" like London, Ontario, that are no longer feeling small.
Well-known artists, such as Toronto's @HateCopy, up and coming artist Megan @Oldhues and London's very own @SoftFlirt, have left their mark on operating peanut wagons that will actively be used in the upcoming peanut harvest at Picard's Peanut Farm.
The Wet Paint initiative is a grassroots project aimed at creating greater creative meritocracy in the city of London, removing the stigma from street art mostly seen in junk yards and on railroad tracks, and supporting London's young talent to magnify a new era in the street art movement.
“The Wet Paint Express was designed to create a direct-line from London, to the global urban arts community,” said project curator Ken Galloway. “In doing so, we’re creating a new platform for art in the city, while inspiring emerging local talent to swing for the fences. We also wanted to lean into the agriculture inspirations that make London and the Western Fair so special.”
The Wet Paint Express's successful pursuit towards building a direct conversation focusing on the world of street art in rural spaces can be witnessed right here at this year's Western Fair. See artist @softflirt paint LIVE in the Agriplex foyer all ten days of the fair, adding to the expanding, traveling gallery of the agricultural peanut cart.
The Agriplex – Community Pavilion and other Fair buildings are open Monday to Friday 3pm-10pm and Saturday 11am-10pm & Sunday 11am-9pm, don't miss your chance to see art history in the making.
5 Reasons to Visit The Animal Barn at Western Fair
Organizers have been busy all summer, preparing for the Western Fair’s return, along with The Barn and its agricultural displays. Rides, food, entertaining attractions, and concerts are a big part of a fantastic and memorable day at the Western Fair, but if you have not visited our agriculture area, and our educational farm animal displays…you must this year!
London, Ontario, August 30, 2023: Organizers have been busy all summer, preparing for the Western Fair’s return, along with The Barn and its agricultural displays. Rides, food, entertaining attractions, and concerts are a big part of a fantastic and memorable day at the Western Fair, but if you have not visited our agriculture area, and our educational farm animal displays…you must this year!
Water Buffalo Calves!
Last year’s crowd favourite will be returning this year! Traditionally from Southeast Asia, Water Buffalo are loving creatures and an important part of everyday farming life for families in that area, providing both meat and milk for the local populous. Hailing from Kampkreek Dairies, in Stratford, Ontario, Water Buffalo provide a higher fat/protein milk than conventional cow's milk and can grow up to 1600 lbs! Visit them at the Western Fair this year.
More Returning Animal Friends!
Whether it is Stella the goat, and her kids, the West Edge Acres Clydesdales and foal, Llama’s, Alpaca’s, Sheep, Dairy & Beef Cattle, or Pigs, they are all visiting the Western Fair and we hope you take some time during your visit to check-out the Barn and meet all the livestock on display.
Ask a Farmer.
Learn about where your food comes from, and if you have a question about any of our farm animals or farming in general, please ask one of our Animal Experts in the Barn, they love to talk to visitors about the important work they do. All animals at the fair are displayed in their appropriate penning and cared for in accordance with their breed standards by our on-site animal experts and in consultation with local vets and livestock providers.
Educational Displays
Many fairgoers love to watch the Clydesdale Farrier Demonstrations from West Edge Acres while at the Fair, and we are delighted to announce they are back again this year. Check out our daily schedules for show times. In addition, be sure to check out all of our amazing farming education displays:
Milking Demonstrations with Dairy Dave – see the new Milking Parlour this year!
Commodity displays from:
Egg Farmers of Ontario
Beef Farmers of Ontario
District 1 Ontario Sheep Farmers
Dairy Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario.
Visit the Barn’s Selfie Stop
Western Fair offers 4 fantastic new backdrops to snap a special family photo. Check out the Barn’s new selfie stop with SuperWave the Racehorse.
For More Information:
Greg Blanchard, Director of Equine Programming
gblanchard@westernfairdistrict.com
1-226-210-4827 or 519-636-1477
BURTON, BEACHES & BERG – Three words sum up London ties to Western Fair Concert Line-up
Happy Days are here again this September 8-17. Music lovers get ready to rock with a triple treat concert line-up with London linkages.
Happy Days are here again this September 8-17. Music lovers get ready to rock with a triple-treat concert line-up with London linkages.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023, legendary musician Burton Cummings and his band take the stage for a highly anticipated concert. Returning to his roots, the Canadian icon will deliver a captivating performance that will transport audiences back in time while honoring his profound connection to London’s music community.
Burton Cummings & His Band
Burton Cummings, with his unmistakable vocals and unmatched artistry, rose to prominence as the lead singer and primary songwriter for The Guess Who, one of Canada’s most iconic bands. A key figure in the group’s success, Cummings played a vital role in shaping their sound, which catapulted them to international fame.
Over the years, The Guess Who and Burton Cummings have graced the stage of the Western Fair multiple times, leaving an indelible mark on the fair’s musical history. The Guess Who delighted audiences with their performances in 1994 and 2000, showcasing their timeless hits to enthusiastic fans. Meanwhile, Burton Cummings has had an enduring connection with the Western Fair, having performed in 1986, 1996, 1999, and most recently in 2018. Excitingly, Cummings is set to make a triumphant return in 2023!
Cummings’ connection to London runs deep, and at the heart of it lies the late Jack Richardson, a Juno Award-nominated Canadian music producer, and former faculty member of Fanshawe College’s Music Industry Arts program for almost 20 years.
Richardson considered a pioneering force in the Canadian music industry, played a pivotal role in producing The Guess Who’s biggest hit records from 1969 to 1975, working closely with Cummings and the band.
Tuesday, September 12, promises to be an unforgettable evening of melodic brilliance and nostalgic resonance. A celebration of the enduring legacy of both Cummings and Richardson, a testament to their artistic genius, and evidence to the profound connections between musicians and the communities that shape them.
The Beaches
The Thunder Queens
Wednesday, September 13, 2023, prepare for an exhilarating night of rock and roll as The Beaches, one of Canada’s hottest all-female rock bands, takes the stage at the Western Fair. This highly anticipated concert will showcase the undeniable talent and infectious energy of The Beaches, supported by the thunderous sound of Thunder Queens, an emerging punk rock band from London itself. Thunder Queens is comprised of Violet Bruneel (guitar, vocals) Lola Hayman (drums, vocals), and Clara Magnan (bass, vocals) and together they have been making waves in the local music scene with their raw energy, blistering guitar riffs, and captivating performances. This all-female concert lineup promises to celebrate the strength and diversity of women in rock music.
The buzz has begun, and anticipation mounts as the Trans-Canada Highwaymen prepare to take the stage at the Western Fair on Thursday, September 14, 2023. Comprised of four iconic Canadian musicians, this powerhouse collective promises an unforgettable rock and roll evening, displaying their incredible talent and indelible mark on the music industry sharing stories and laughter.
Trans-Canada Highwaymen. Chris Murphy, Moe Berg, Craig Northey, and Steven Page (left to right)
Consisting of Chris Murphy of Sloan, Moe Berg of The Pursuit of Happiness, The Odds lead vocalist Craig Northey, and former Barenaked Ladies member Steven Page, the Trans-Canada Highwaymen bring together an unparalleled array of talent and hits.
Their collective impact on Canadian music is immeasurable, and their combined discography is a treasure trove of beloved classics.
Among the members of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen, Moe Berg stands out not only for his musical prowess but also for his deep connection to the London community. As a faculty member of Fanshawe College in the esteemed Music Industry Arts program, Berg has nurtured and mentored aspiring musicians for years, shaping the next generation of talent.
Berg’s expertise and dedication to the craft have made him an invaluable resource for students at Fanshawe College. His experiences as a musician, songwriter, and producer have provided aspiring artists with unique insights into the music industry. Many musicians and bands owe their success to his guidance and production including London’s very own, Lost in Japan.
The upcoming Trans-Canada Highwaymen concert at the Western Fair serves as a testament to the enduring power of Canadian rock and the immense impact these musicians have had on the nation’s musical landscape. As they take the stage together, fans can expect a musical journey through the hits that have become the soundtrack of our lives.