Providence Bay Fair
If you have any other photographs or items to submit please either go back to the home page and click on Contact Us to e-mail your photographs or click on the address link for the mailing and telephone information.
On April 25, 1884 a dedicated group of pioneers made a declaration of association for the establishment of "The Township of Campbell and Providence Bay Agricultural Society", more commonly known as the Providence Bay Fair.
The first Providence Bay Fair October 1884
The very first fair under the establishment of The Township of Campbell and Providence Bay Agricultural Society was held on the site of the present fair grounds in October 1884. The Agricultural Society Members were Mr. William Pattison as President, Mr. R.F. Ogle as Secretary and Mr. Ralph Wesley Mutchmor as Treasurer.
The first fair attracted 28 exhibitors and categories/classes included horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, grain, roots, vegetables, dairy products, manufacturers/implements, domestic manufacturers and Ladies Work.
For the first few years the fair was held in October on either a Monday or Tuesday for just the one day.
Once the fair became a bigger event, it was decided to move the Fair from October to mid September and have the Fair events run for 2 days.
With an eye to the future and the survival of the fair in mind, the dates were changed In 1968 to mid August. This change was to take advantage of the tourist traffic. The Fair needed to become not only an agricultural event, but an important annual tourist attraction that boasted amusement rides, a parade, exhibits, children's events, musical entertainment and a Fair Queen Pageant.
In more recently years the fair dates have been Friday and Saturdays.
It was not until 1983 that Sunday's were added.
Exhibits have changed over the years. The number of animals being brought to the fair have decreased drastically.
In 1948 apple and lemon pies were added to the prize list; as that is when sugar was no longer rationed.
For several years during the fair history the Agricultural Society could only afford to pay the exhibitors a percentage of their prize money.
Around 1948 prize money would range from $0.75, $1.50 and $2.00 for first prize winning entries.
In 1884 the prize money awarded was $51.25.
In 1987 the prize money totaled $4,923.00.
Dances were held from 1939 to 1946 to aid in expenses and in 1963 dances were officially added to the fair schedule.
The grounds for the fair has changed considerably over the years. The initial exhibit hall was the community hall, which was an old building with little or no insulation against the cold, and only a bit of cement for the floor with the major balance of the floor being in sand.
In 1949, the Directors began talks with the Rink Committee and decided to transfer the deed of the property to the Township of Carnarvon with the understanding that the property could continue to be used for the agricultural fair as long as the society was to exist.
The old community hall was sold in 1950 and the exhibits from then moved to the Providence Bay Arena.
Old Providence Bay Community Hall Providence Bay Arena
The Providence Bay Fair has always been considered a big event in the community. It is a time to socialize, show off your prized possessions, gardening, knitting skills and in later years the added enjoyment of musical entertainment.
The Agricultural Society has had a dedicated and worthy succession of volunteers serving as officers and directors for over a century. With the hard work of these people in the community, all are proud of the very successful annual Providence Bay Fair.
| Queen Pageant | Entertainment | Horse Pull |