Beachburg Fair returns to the Ottawa Valley for 169th year

From carnival rides to games and educational experiences, the Beachburg Fair has remained an annual pillar in Eastern Ontario for 169 years. CTV’s Josh Marano.

Families enjoyed toonie rides, food trucks and a demolition derby as the Beachburg Fair returned on a hotter than usual summer weekend.

Organized by the Beachburg Agricultural Society, the event brings together the entire Ottawa Valley for a weekend of family-friendly fun. The fair is a yearly tradition rooted in history dating back to 1857.

As it wrapped up its 169th weekend on Sunday, organizers say they welcomed over 5,000 people.

It’s become a yearly tradition for families looking to spend the day playing carnival games, hitting different rides and seeing livestock up close.

Rachel Eden is the fair’s secretary and says they have added some new attractions over the years. The goal of the fair is to encourage awareness of agriculture, especially for those living in rural communities.

“We’ve had different events each day. This year, we added a modified truck and tractor pull on Thursday, and it really increased our numbers through our gates,” Eden says.

“On Friday, we had our horse pull and last night, we had our demolition derby, which is a crowd favorite.”

Eden says the fair is run by mostly volunteers and adds it’s something people love about attending the fair each year.

“We have over like 170 volunteers who make this fair possible, it would not happen without that manpower,” Eden said.

“That’s what people love that it’s genuine and full of heart and it feels like home when you come here.”

Eden says once they wrap up this weekend, organizers will begin to brainstorm plans for next year’s 170th anniversary, which she says will be a major milestone.

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