Ancaster Fair closed to general public, vaccine mandate in place

Due to shifting provincial COVID-19 regulations, the 2021 Ancaster Fair will be closed to the general public, organizers have announced.

Tammy Quinn, secretary-treasurer and manager of the Ancaster Agricultural Society, said the event will proceed with livestock shows and homecraft exhibits with the grounds open to members, exhibitors, and families of exhibitors. But the fairgrounds will be closed to the outside public on Sept. 25 and 26.

“Our board made the determination Monday evening that we’ll be closed to the public and we’ll have all of our youth agriculture shows still happening and our homecraft exhibits that we had listed will still happen,” Quinn said on Wednesday.

Quinn said the lack of availability of vendors, including its long-standing midway partner, weighed into the decision.

In addition, fair attendees must be fully vaccinated for 14 days, or be able to provide a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test from no more than 48 hours before the events, as an alternative to proof of vaccination.

Unvaccinated people with medical exemptions and youth under 12 are exempt from the vaccine requirements.

The fair had been planned to go ahead with a modified format of in-person, virtual and drive-thru events, with advance ticket sales to limit gathering numbers on the grounds.

While online ticket sales had already commenced, they have since closed and refunds have been processed, Quinn said.

Fair organizers had already cancelled its demolition derby and recently received word from the midway provider that it would not be able to offer kiddie rides, as originally planned.

Quinn noted that while many fair attractions take place outdoors, the fair cannot be considered an outdoor event due to its multitude of features inside Marritt Hall and the commercial building.

For those who are able to attend on Sept. 25 and 26, the 2021 fair will focus on youth in agriculture.

Homecraft exhibits will be featured in the Marritt Hall Emick Room. Dairy and beef shows will be held in the show arena. A sheep show and goat show will take place in a tent beside the Donovan building.

A haflinger and hunter horse show and a Canadian horse demonstration are also planned.