Agriculture, entertainment, and community shine at 2026 Blackstock Fair

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

SCUGOG: Sunshine, warm temperatures, and plenty of community spirit combined Saturday, to make the 159th annual Blackstock Fair a memorable celebration of rural tradition.

With temperatures reaching the mid-twenties, under beautiful sunny skies, families, farmers, exhibitors, and visitors made their way to the Blackstock Recreation Centre and Fairgrounds, on August 29th, for the one-day celebration.

From early-morning 4-H activities and livestock shows to vendors, a barbecue, children's activities, and live entertainment, the daytime portion of the fair offered something for visitors of all ages, with free admission until 4 p.m.

“It’s just one of those days where you come out and you run into people you haven’t seen in months,” said Neil Thompson, who travelled from Woodville to attend the fair with his family. “The weather is beautiful, the kids are having fun, and there’s something for everyone. It’s what a community fair should be.”

The agricultural roots of the fair remained front and centre throughout the day.

The morning began with the 4-H Goat Club Achievement Day, followed by the Saddle Horse Show and 4-H Sheep Club Achievement Day. The 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day followed later in the morning, giving young participants an opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout the year.

The Horse Pull drew spectators to the track, around noon, followed by the Stick Horse Show, while the Beef and Dairy Open Shows provided another opportunity to showcase local livestock.

Inside the fair buildings, visitors could browse displays and competitions, while vendors and the barbecue offered additional attractions, throughout the afternoon.

For younger fairgoers, Kid’s World featured activities of its own, including the Pedal Tractor Pull.

The fair also offered plenty of entertainment, including performances by the Outback Cloggers, and Comedy in Motion.

Local artist Taylor Landry added live music to the afternoon, with a performance which helped provide the soundtrack for the daytime festivities.

For longtime fairgoers, however, the Blackstock Fair is about more than any single event.

Sarah Ross, who has attended the fair for “at least 30 years,” said, the annual gathering remains an important summer tradition.

“We’ve been coming for years, and it’s great to see the fair continuing to bring people together,” she added. “You see the same families coming back, but you also see new people discovering the fair. It’s a tradition that really feels like it belongs to the whole community.”

As the daytime portion of the fair came to a close, at 4 p.m., the event shifted gears, with the gates reopening for the evening festivities, with paid admission.

The evening crowd was treated to one of the fair’s most anticipated attractions, the demolition derby.

The roar of engines and crunch of metal provided an energetic change of pace from the agricultural competitions and family activities which had filled the grounds earlier in the day, drawing spectators to the track as drivers battled it out.

The evening celebration continued, following the derby, with a live performance by local musician Brodie Bell, keeping music and entertainment at the centre of the festivities into the night.

“It’s the perfect way to finish the day,” added Casey Smith of Blackstock. “You can spend the afternoon looking at the animals and exhibits and enjoying all the family activities, and then come back for the demolition derby and live music. It really gives you the best of both worlds.”

Scugog Mayor, Wilma Wotten said, the Blackstock Fair remains an important annual celebration for the community.

“The Blackstock Fair is such a wonderful example of the traditions and community spirit [which] make Scugog special,” Mayor Wotten said. “For generations, people have come together to celebrate agriculture, showcase their talents and enjoy a day with family, friends and neighbours.”

After 159 years, the Blackstock Fair continues to bring the community together, proving some of Scugog’s longest-standing traditions remain just as relevant, and just as much fun today, as they always have been.