Markham Fair returns Oct. 1 to 4 with Harvest Roots, Midway Hoots, and Four Nights of Grandstand Action

With fall once again settling into Markham, the city is getting ready for one of its oldest and most beloved annual traditions. The 2026 Markham Fair returns October 1, 2, 3 and 4, bringing four days of agriculture, entertainment, competitions, food, rides, animals, and community celebration back to the Markham Fairgrounds.

“The Markham Fair has so many amazing attractions, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.“ says the Fair’s current President, Devin King

This year’s Fair continues a tradition that dates back to 1844. Hosted by the Markham and East York Agricultural Society, the Fair has long served as both a showcase for rural achievement and a meeting place for the wider community. What began as a forum for agricultural improvement and friendly competition has grown into one of Canada’s oldest country fairs.

“My father was the President in 1996 when I was just a baby,” says current President King. “My favourite memories around the fair involve the fair community coming together every fall to bring the fair to life.”

For 2026, the Fair has a dual theme of Harvest Time and Back in Time, fitting ideas for an event that has always been built around the longstanding tradition of the season’s work, creativity, and abundance. Now in its 182nd year, the Markham Fair is Canada’s largest four-day fall fair.

That size is part of the story. This is not a small weekend carnival wearing a straw hat for effect. It is a massive volunteer-driven agricultural event, powered by more than 800 active members and organized through more than 75 committees, each responsible for a different part of the Fair. That means everything from livestock classes and homecraft displays to entertainment, admissions, competitions, youth events, concessions, and family attractions has been months in the making before the gates ever open.

“It is amazing to sit back and watch our volunteers from all walks of life come together to grow the Markham Fair into what it has become today,” says King. “We prioritize our deep traditions in community, family, and agriculture as we continue to grow alongside the changing community.”

As always, the agricultural core remains the reason the Fair exists. Visitors can expect livestock shows, animal competitions, demonstrations, farm displays, homecraft exhibits, horticulture, baking, photography, youth entries, 4-H activities, and the kind of hands-on rural education that can be hard to find in a rapidly changing urban community. Thousands of exhibitors enter more than 10,000 items each year, keeping competition and display at the heart of the event.

Of course, for many families, the first stop will be the Midway. The Fair promises rides and games for thrill seekers, with midway credits and advance Ride-All-Day passes available through the Fair’s ticketing information. Gate admission is separate from midway rides, but most Fair attractions are included with admission, including major track shows, live bands, animal displays, livestock and homecraft exhibits, magicians, jugglers, and other performers.

“We have brought in so many different attractions, vendors, and demonstrations that we have something for everyone to enjoy,” says King

The Livestock Arena will be busy throughout the weekend as well, with everything from cattle shows to heavy horse pulls. One of the biggest family draws is expected to be the Superdogs show on Friday night, bringing high-energy canine entertainment into the Fair’s already packed animal programming.

The main track, meanwhile, is once again built for noise, horsepower, and a little bit of controlled chaos. Thursday night brings the Monster Truck Show. Friday night features the Truck and Tractor Pull. Saturday night is reserved for the Demolition Derby and Demo-cross. Then, on Sunday evening, the Fair closes its track entertainment with another Monster Truck Show.

There are also two notable new additions for 2026.

The first is a new Demolition Derby class exclusive to Markham Fair this year: Two Man Extreme Trucks. In this variation, two people ride in the truck together, with one handling the gas and brake pedals while the other steers. It sounds ridiculous in exactly the right Fair-night way, part motorsport, part trust exercise, part rolling metal thunderstorm.

“This event is going to be really exciting to watch and sure to have some big hits!” says King

The second new feature is decidedly more welcoming to those who prefer boots to bumpers. Step in Time Country will lead interactive line dancing demonstrations and lessons on the weekend in the Crows Corral. Visitors will be invited to join in, learn a few steps, and take part rather than simply watch from the sidelines.

For visitors planning their weekend, the Fair runs Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult and youth admission is listed at $25, children 12 and under are $10, seniors are $15, preschool children four and under are free, and parking is free.

The 2026 Markham Fair looks like exactly what the Fair has always tried to be: a bridge between Markham’s agricultural roots and its present-day community. There will be big engines, tiny rabbits, prize vegetables, bright rides, local food, arena dust, grandstand noise, and probably at least one child discovering that cows are much larger in person than they are in picture books.

“I am honoured to play my part in this special time of year for our community,” continues King. “I also have a young family now, and I am excited to watch them grow up as a part of the fair family that I am lucky to be a part of.”

That mix is the point. The Markham Fair celebrates where the community came from while still making room for what today’s visitors want to see, taste, hear, ride, and try for themselves.

“The Markham Fair is more than an annual event,” says King. “It is a celebration of community, agriculture, and the people who make Markham such a special place. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the 2026 Markham Fair.”

Tickets and full event details are available through the Markham Fair website.