Following the arrival of the time-honoured Fair Parade, the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Stormont County Fair were held with speakers thanking sponsors, supporters and volunteers for their dedication and hard work. Thompson Goddard Photo

NEWINGTON – It was certainly a fantastic fair weekend in the small South Stormont community of Newington. Over Labour Day weekend, the 2026 Stormont County Fair attracted hundreds of visitors to Newington and continued its legacy as a Labour Day family tradition since it began in 1867.

For months before the fair begins Stormont Agricultural Society volunteers spent hours putting together a weekend full of fun for visitors to enjoy. As fair time nears, many hours are spent preparing the grounds for the event and throughout the fair they are seen throughout the grounds quietly making sure that everything goes as planned.

Stormont Agricultural Society President Alyssa Waldroff expressed a note of thanks for the fair sponsors and volunteers when she commented on how “they don’t do it because they have the time, they do it because they have the heart.”

During the opening ceremonies, which followed the fair parade on Saturday, invited dignitaries echoed Waldroff’s comments by mentioning the important role of local businesses and volunteers in ensuring the success of the fair.

SDSG MPP Nolan Quinn mentioned in his remarks how this was the 159th edition of the Stormont County Fair and the weather looked favourable for the weekend. SDG Warden François Landry stressed the importance of the agricultural fairs in bringing people together, with South Stormont Mayor Bryan McGillis mentioning “Fairs are here for the community.”

Throughout the fair weekend people were able to enjoy a wide selection of activities. There was the demolition derby on Friday night, a baseball tournament throughout the weekend, lots of vendors with a large variety of items for sale, local community organizations with booths and many different opportunities to enjoy live entertainment. Add to all these activities the midway with rides and games, a horse show, cattle shows, Stormont County 4-H Achievement Days as well as agricultural equipment and homecraft displays and the reason for popularity of this fair becomes evident.

A gigantic thank you must be expressed to the organizers for once again giving the community a great end to summer and as South Stormont Councillor Jennifer MacIsaac said during the opening ceremonies, “What would Labour Day be without the fair!”