Harrow Fair celebrates 171st year

It was a packed house Saturday night for the Gord Bamford concert at the Harrow Fair.

The 171st edition of the Harrow Fair once again brought together families, farmers, and fairgoers for a weekend of tradition, competition, and entertainment.

This year’s new addition — the outhouse races — proved to be an instant hit with the crowd. Teams with names like The Poop Coop, The Queen Latrine, The Feedstore Flushers, and the Harrow Fire Department raced custom-built outhouses in a lighthearted competition. The overall winners of the race get to choose which charity they would like the entrance fees to go to. After a series of mishaps sidelined their rivals, the Fire Department claimed victory and donated the money to the burn unit.

One of the popular children’s events is the pedal tractor pull. Organizer Dennis McLean explained that the tractors were originally purchased nearly 40 years ago in the U.S. by a local man for his son after watching a competition there. The equipment was later sold to the Harrow Fair, where it has been a staple attraction since.

Kids compete in three weight classes—under 50 lbs, under 75 lbs, and under 100 lbs—by pulling a weighted cart uphill. 

“Sometimes kids manage to pull as much as 75-100 pounds,” said McLean.   

With boys and girls competing side by side, sibling rivalries often add an extra layer of excitement to the contest.

Harrow Fair president Brian Renaud said the fair represents the best of the community. “It’s kind of the end-of-summer party,” he said. “We’re here to showcase agriculture and all the hard work people put in over the summer, whether it’s showing their animals or growing their crops. The fair also provides great family entertainment.”

Another highlight was the annual pie auction, which raised an impressive $118,150 for the John McGivney Children’s Centre.

Music was also front and center throughout the weekend, with performances by Carson Janik, Buck Twenty, Lauren Victoria, and country star Gord Bamford, who headlined Saturday night. 

Playing to a crowd of roughly 3,000, Bamford left the stage to chants of “Gord, Gord, Gord!”—a moment he said never gets old.

“I’m very fortunate this is something I get to make a living doing,” said Bamford. “We love playing music. We’re 25 years in now, and it’s awesome. I never dreamt I’d get to this level.” He added that small-town fairs like Harrow’s are some of his favourite stops. “Thank you to all the fans who came out—it was great to see people from eight to eighty dancing.”

Beyond the entertainment, visitors enjoyed food and craft vendors, the parade, horse shows, a 4-H swine, sheep and poultry auction, dog agility training shows, bossy bingo, adult and kids competitions and the midway.

Renaud praised the many people who make the event possible. “We have hundreds of volunteers. Without them, there would be no fair,” he said, extending his thanks to the community for its continued support. Planning for the 2026 fair, he added, will begin as early as October.

Founded in 1854, the Harrow Fair continues to be one of the region’s most beloved traditions. While official attendance figures were not yet available at press time, organizers say this year’s combination of sunny weather, family fun, and community pride made it one of the best yet.

Harrow Fair celebrates 171st year

By Donna Tuckwell