Sunshine draws great crowd to 162nd annual Ripley-Huron Fall Fair

The sun shone on the 162nd annual Ripley-Huron Fall Fair, drawing a great crowd to enjoy a multitude of activities, Saturday.

The morning began with the 4-H beef, sheep and light-horse shows, and then the mammoth parade.

Following the parade, MC Murray Needham welcomed everyone and noted that the fair once again enjoyed fantastic sunny, hot weather.

Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray congratulated the Ripley Agricultural Society on another great fair to mark the 162nd year. “Thank you to all the volunteers, the local exhibitors and the 4-H clubs. Your efforts have produced another excellent fair.”

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb also praised the organizers and the many volunteers. “It’s amazing the number of people who attend this event. Ripley has the largest parade of any fair in Huron-Bruce, and possibly Grey County too. Have a great day!”

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson said Ripley has something special, compared to the 210 agricultural societies across Ontario. “Your fair is one of the best – congratulations.”

She also presented a certificate of recognition to Hannah MacDonald, the 2023-24 Ripley-Huron Fall Fair ambassador, who won the title of CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) ambassador and represented those 210 agricultural societies last year.

MacDonald then officially opened the 162nd Ripley-Huron Fall Fair.

The Gordon Patterson award for the most points in three field crops, went to R.G. Harris Farms; the milk award went to the ter Woerds; the Judy Thompson homecraft award went to Lorilee Vecchier; and the junior exhibitor award went to Tatum Colling.

The crowd enjoyed hearing the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band and the Teeswater Highlanders Pipe Band perform in a massed band.



The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band and the Teeswater Highlanders Pipe Band gather for a massed band performance at the Ripley-Huron Fall Fair

The afternoon activities included the car show, laser combat, reptile exhibit, dunk tank, axe-throwing, Snippity the Clown, Paw Patrol and Princess Peach mascots, the Super Dog Show, and FMX Shows. The Magic of Danny Hamill was an amazing show that captivated the audience, both young and old, with a variety of sleight-of-hand tricks and illusions.

The fall fair ended with a dance to the “Weekend Never Ends Band” and “Adam Cousins.”