Forest Fall Fair

The story

A little history

The first recorded Forest fair was held at Broadway and Main Streets in 1870, moving into the local militia's drill shed the following year. In 1874 the agricultural society bought twelve acres and named them Forest Pleasure Park, the fair's home until the present grounds were acquired in 1909.

The old prize lists tell you what mattered. In 1879, the best ten-pound crock of butter won a framed picture of Queen Victoria. The best two pumpkins earned three peach trees. Fancy work took home a clock, and twenty dollars rode on the farmers' horse race.

The prizes have changed, but the spirit has not. The fair became a three-day event in 1983 with the addition of the Sunday demolition derby, and today it fills the grounds at Jefferson Street with one of the best fair weekends of the season.

2026

This year's fair

This year's theme is Harvest Cheer & Country Gear, and the fair runs Friday September 25 to Sunday September 27. The fun actually starts the night before, with the Ambassador and Junior Ambassador Competition on Thursday September 24 at the Forest Legion, 58 Albert Street. Doors at 7pm, program at 7:30, $5 at the door.

Times below come from the fair's official schedule and are marked tentative, so double check big ones close to fair day.

Friday September 25

• 4:00 pmGates open until 10pm, petting zoo and Kid's Zone with scavenger hunt until 8
• 5:00 pmMidway opens, kitchen open until 8
• 6:00 pmExhibit hall and commercial building open, beer tent, live music in the local talent tent
• 9:00 pmMusical fireworks, ten minutes set to music, rain date Saturday night

Saturday September 26

• 7:00 amGates open until 10pm
• 8:30 amLight horse show
• 10:00 amBaby Show Off contest in the Kid's Zone, balloon animals begin
• 11:00 amMidway opens until midnight, Kid's Zone until 6
• 11:30 amMojo Magic stage show
• NoonParade departs the Forest Curling Club lot, arriving at the fairgrounds around 12:30
• 1:00 pmEquine jumping show, back by popular demand, runs about three hours
• 2:00 pmThe Elder Brothers play the main tent until 5
• 6:00 pmSaturday Night Fair Dance on the main stage, with Sarnia's own Big Heavy Set Men, then After Midnight

Sunday September 27

• 7:00 amGates open until 4pm
• 9:00 amPetting zoo and Kid's Zone open
• 10:00 amLight horse speed show
• 11:00 amHeavy horse show, beef cattle show, and a Paw Patrol meet and greet with Chase in the Kid's Zone until 3, new this year
• NoonMidway opens until about 5, magic stage shows at 12, 2:30 and 3:30

The essentials

Plan your visit

• WhenFriday Sept 25 to Sunday Sept 27, 2026
• Where45 Jefferson Street West, Forest
• Gate$15 per day, weekend pass $40, entertainment included
• RidesAll-day midway pass $35 in advance, $45 at the fair, valid one day
• ThemeHarvest Cheer & Country Gear

Full details at theforestfair.ca

Family tip

Save $10 a wristband

Buy midway ride passes in advance and save $10 each. Advance passes are sold at Homestead Farm and Home Supply in Forest, Dudman Fuels, and Ravell Insurance in the Bright's Grove Foodland plaza, handy if you are coming from the Sarnia side. Quantities are limited.

And for the littles: Friday night fireworks at 9, and Chase from Paw Patrol on Sunday from 11 to 3.