LETTER: You may have heard...

You may have heard someone say the fairgrounds is only used three days per year, and the land is too valuable to sit unused for the rest of the year. In reality, this 23 acre municipal park is used for assorted recreational activities daily, by joggers, walkers, dog walkers, parents looking to give their children a place to run around, and folks simply seeking some open space and solitude.

In addition to the annual Labour Day Weekend fair, the Port Perry Agricultural Society hosts numerous events over the year.

These events include:

The Terry Fox Run.

The Touch a Truck Event.

The Food Truck Festival.

The DFRFR Farm Safety.

The February Family Day Event.

The Strong in Scugog Strong Event.

The Craft Show.

The 4-H Holstein Club.

The Durham West 4H Judging School.

Durham Regional Police Safety Day.

The VE Day Celebration.

Marshalling of the Santa Claus parade.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Summer Golf Camp.

Drive in concerts for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Fundraising walks for ALS, and Oak Ridges Hospice.

Fundraising snowball tournaments for local organizations.

The fairgrounds have provided off-site parking during construction at the Villa and the Ontario Hydro projects.

The fairgrounds have been used as a staging ground and base camp for numerous movie production crews.

The Township of Scugog uses to fairgrounds for snow storage, when clearing the town streets each winter.

The Care and Share Gardeners, who donate their produce to the food banks, attend their plots on the fairgrounds throughout the growing season.

The entertainment shelter is used by dog obedience schools, cloggers and other dance schools, and the Port Perry Dukes Ukulele Club. There has been yoga practice and aerobics. The baseball diamond is used for practices by various groups. The race track is used for training exercises by the local schools, and students gather here after school to practice their skills. The Township of Scugog Fire Department practices on the fairgrounds.

Individuals can be seen practising their golf swing, flying kites and operating remote-controlled aircraft and other remote-controlled vehicles. In the winter, one will see individuals cross-country skiing and kite skiing.

All of the above activities occur within walking distance of most of the town of Port Perry.

Are You Aware?

The Port Perry Agricultural Society (PPAS) has paid all of the costs of maintenance of the Fairgrounds for many decades. These costs include water and sewer, electricity, garbage pickup, insurance, grass cutting, tree trimming and maintenance, upgrading electrical infrastructure, and upgrading and maintenance of all buildings and structures on the site.

The Township of Scugog and the Region of Durham have given the PPAS no financial assistance for over 20 years. We receive no tax dollars.

Many years ago, the Township of Scugog would give the PPAS $1000 annually for the production of the fair. The Township discontinued that annual grant a long time ago.

Most of PPAS’s annual income comes from the fair, and this income, in turn, supports the production of next year's fair.

The PPAS is anxious to make improvements to the Fairgrounds, which would make the land even more attractive to the community.

Historically, the community has been very supportive and generous, donating labour, materials, equipment and money for projects on the Fairgrounds.

The PPAS has successfully obtained government grants for larger projects in the past.

Without a lease of at least 5, and more often 10 years, the PPAS does not qualify for government grants, and the community is understandably more hesitant to donate, when the land may be disposed of by the Township of Scugog in the relatively near future.

Did You Know…

The Port Perry Agricultural Society conducted a survey in August 2025, asking folks what they would like to see on the fairgrounds.

Suggestions included more trees, more gardens, picnic tables, a picnic shelter, a band shelter which could accommodate summer concerts and movie nights, pickleball courts, and a sand ring (for accommodating equine events).

People requested more car shows, tractor shows, and educational events featuring agriculture, gardening, and horticulture.

The Port Perry Agricultural Society is eager to pursue all of these options, but without a lease for a reasonable length of time, it is not feasible to raise the funds required.

You will recall the Port Perry Agricultural Society receives no taxpayer money and no funds from the Township of Scugog.

Paul Puckrin, PPAS

Resident of Port Perry