This month, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair celebrates a whopping 89 years of family friendly, farm-oriented fun. Here are five reasons why a visit to the Royal Fair is a worthwhile endeavour for rural folk and city slickers alike.
1. Hang out with the horsey set. In addition to all the fine activities of the agricultural fair itself, there is also The Royal Horse Show (separate ticket required), which happens to be the largest indoor horse show in North America. The show has a full competitive slate with matinee and evening events throughout the weekend. It's a major happening and a great excuse to reuse that cowboy costume from Halloween.
2. Gain some locavore clout. Call yourself a locavore? Now is the time to take it to the next level and really get to know where your food comes from. The fair features more than 4,000 exhibitors and the vast majority are local farmers. Beyond food, the Ontario Craft Brewers are back with the Royal Brew House, a craft beer garden featuring local Ontario craft beer, and there is the fair's annual wine competition, featuring Ontario wine. Dude, it is a local-palooza up in here.
3. Mmm. Butter. There is art. There is food. Then there is butter sculpting. In a mind-melting display of entertainment genius, the Royal Fair has hosted a butter-sculpting competition for decades and it has always been a crowd favourite. What's not to love? Taking a 25-kg block of delicious butter and crafting a scary dinosaur chasing a person is just too cool. And then there is the pop culture factor: Jennifer Garner's new film about a competitive butter carver, Butter, got its premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. It’s like the cosmos are calling out for more butter. Check out the sculpture displays in Hall C; judging will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10.
4. Former Leafs trade pucks for horse hockey. Have you heard of Dave Offen or Cliff Sifton? No? Neither have we, but we have heard of Darcy Tucker, Curtis Joseph, Darryl Sittler and Mark Napier. The former NHL stars will be joining the aforementioned Offen and Sifton (world-famous professional polo players, just so you know) for a game of horse hockey. No word yet on whether Tucker plans on dropping the gloves and going toe to toe with a horse. But anything is possible. Game on at 2:50 p.m., Nov. 5.
5. Mutant vegetables. Who doesn't love a thousand-pound pumpkin? Plunk your kid on top and take funny photos destined for Facebook. Make jokes about carving it or catching a raccoon dragging that colossal thing down the street. Horse hockey is great, but nothing can bring a smile to your face faster than a deformed freak of agriculture. Last year, there was a 51.6 pound beet that set a Guinness World Record. The giant vegetable judging takes place on Saturday, Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Nov. 4-13, Exhibition Place