The sights and sounds of the working farmer are returning once again to Caledonia.

Following a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Queens County Fair gets underway Tuesday.

Secretary/Manager of the fair board Doreen Holdright says while they did manage to host a couple of smaller events over COVID-19, people are eager to attend the full fair once again.

“It was nothing like having an exhibition. Now everybody’s really excited about getting back to the normal thing where everything is open for five days and you’ve got lots of opportunity to get in and see and do what you want to do,” said Holdright.

The full schedule includes horse and oxen pulls, barrel racing, woodsman competitions, entertainment for adults and kids, live music, the ever-popular fry-pan and toilet seat toss and much more.

The pandemic did create time to allow improvements to the fair site.

The entertainment pavilion received a refresh and visitors will enjoy the new washroom complex.

The event is not going off without a little unexpected excitement this year.

Holdright says just last week the water system at the fairgrounds failed.

“It’s on a drilled well and our conditioner just completely failed so we had to put in a whole new system. I think they finished it on Wednesday, or something, was when the last part came in to get it working,” said Holdright. “I tell you; we were all in panic mode. Nothing comes easy.”

According to the Queens County Fair webpage, agricultural exhibitions have been held in the area since the 1880s.

The fair has called its current location home since 1886. Holdright estimates over five days the Queens County Fair will welcome about 5,000 people through the gates.

She says a 14-member board serves on several committees in the year leading up to the fair to ensure all their bases are covered and she’s grateful for the team of 80 – 100 volunteers who ensure the event runs smoothly.

The Queens County Fair runs from Tuesday through Saturday.

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