Manitowaning Fall Fair celebrates 150 years of rural life

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Manitowaning Fall Fair celebrates 150 years of rural life

Manitowaning celebrated the 150th iteration of its Fall Fair with record crowds, opening ceremonies, parades, a horse show, and draft horse pulls.

Alicia McCutcheon

Sep 18, 2026 - 5 min read

FAMILY TRADITION—Young Trapper Cyr of Bidwell took top honours in the Manitowaning Fall Fair Heavyweight draft horse pull with his team of Belgians, Louis and Rycher. Trapper takes over the reigns, quite literally, from his proud parents. —photo by Ed Prudhomme

Manitowaning Fall Fair celebrates 150 years of rural life — FAMILY TRADITION—Young Trapper Cyr of Bidwell took top honours in the Manitowaning Fall Fair Heavyweight draft horse pull with his team of Belgians, Louis and Rycher. Trapper takes over the reigns, quite literally, from his proud parents. —photo by Ed Prudhomme

MANITOWANING—The 150th iteration of the Manitowaning Fall Fair was one for the books. Saturday drew record crowds to the storied Assiginack fairgrounds and people from across Manitoulin gathered to ‘Look into the future and back to their roots.’

At the opening ceremonies Friday, September 11, Mayor Brenda Reid gave a warm welcome to the Manitowaning Fall Fair, encouraging everyone to give the Agricultural Society a big round of applause for this remarkable feat.

Kelsey McGuire, curator of the Assiginack Museum, reads a copy of The Expositor while sitting on the museum float honouring the fair’s past and future in the annual parade. The paper has been recording the Manitowaning Fall Fair for 148 years (including this year).

Mayor Reid noted that Manitowaning’s founding date was 1836 and then, 40 years later, cane the first fall fair. “I wonder if any of the original organizers had any idea that it would go this long,” she mused.